Preparation of bioactive inorganic-organic hybrids by hot water treatment

Bioactive inorganic-organic hybrids with high flexibility are useful for a new kind of bone-repairing materials. In the present study, preparation of bioactive poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) or poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO)-TiO2 hybrids was attempted by sol-gel method and subsequent hot water treatment. Both of the hybrids showed an apatite-forming ability in a simulated body fluid with ion concentrations nearly equal to those of human blood plasma. It is considered that apatite formation is induced by anatase precipitated by the hot water treatment. The resultant hybrids showed high deformability. It can be concluded that bioactive inorganic-organic hybrids with high flexibility can be obtained by the present method.