Effect of Comonomers on Physical Properties and Cell Attachment to Silica-Methacrylate/Acrylate Hybrids for Bone Substitution

Hybrids with a silica network covalently bonded to a polymer are promising materials for bone repair. Previous work on synthesizing methyl methacrylate (MMA) based copolymers by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization gives high tailor-ability of mechanical properties since sophisticated polymer structures can be designed. However, more flexible hybrids would be beneficial. Here, n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) and methyl acrylate (MA) based hybrids are produced. Unlike MMA, BMA and MA hybrids do not show plastic deformation, and BMA hybrid has strain to failure of 33%. Although the new hybrids are more flexible, preosteoblast cells do not adhere on their surfaces, due to higher hydrophobicity and lower stiffness. Comonomer choice is crucial for bone regenerative hybrids.