Poly(vinyl alcohol)-hydroxyapatite biomimetic scaffold for tissue regeneration

Hydroxyapatite-poly(vinyl alcohol) composite blocks were produced by freeze-thawing in situ synthesized hybrid suspension. Matrix mediated precipitation of hydroxyapatite particles in the polymer, controlled the particle size in nanometer range (< 100 nm) and hydrogelation induced an ordered three-dimensional assembly of the particles. Morphological and crystallographic characterization revealed the formation of a macro-porous hydroxyapatite-poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite block. Initial results indicate compositional dependence of modulus of elasticity of the composite. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.