Abstract
CaO and SiO2-based ceramics like Bioglass bond to living bone through a biologically active apatite layer that spontaneously deposits on their surface in a body environment. However, those ceramic materials are far from the ideal bone substitute and they find a limited range of use. Therefore, new types of bioactive materials with widely correspondence for the mechanical property of a body part are desired. We recently developed new-type bioactive ceramics hybridized with organic component. Bioactive organically modified silicates were synthesized through sol-gel processing starting from polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS) and tetraethoxysilane(TEOS). The hybrids involving calcium ions showed not only flexibility but also bioactivity. Moreover, natural polymers like gelatin and chitosan were employed for fabrication of biodegradable and bioactive hybrids. The rate of degradation for hybrids was controlled by the ratio of organic-inorganic component. The Ca2+ containing hybrids exhibited a good in vitro bioactivity and cytocompatibility.
