Preparation of bioactive PDMS-modified CaO-SiO2-TiO2 hybrids by the sol-gel method

Much attention has been focused on the development of a new type of bioactive material with mechanical properties analogous to those of natural bone. The present authors previously showed that some polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-modified CaO-SiO2-TiO2 hybrids prepared by sol-gel method show apatite-forming ability in a simulated body fluid (SBF), which is indicative of bioactivity. In the present study, effects of composition of PDMS-modified CaO-SiO2-TiO2 hybrids on their bioactivity and mechanical properties were investigated. The bioactivity of the hybrids increased with decreasing PDMS content and increasing TiO2 content. Their strain at failure increased with increasing PDMS content and decreasing TiO2 content. Some samples showed high bioactivity, as well as analogous mechanical properties to those of human cancellous bones. This type of hybrids might be useful as a bone-repairing material.