Effects of polyethylene glycol and methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane on morphology and bioactivity of CaO-SiO₂ gel prepared by sol-gel method

CaO-SiO₂ gels for bioactive organic-inorganic composites were prepared from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate (Ca(NO₃)₂·4H₂O) by a sol-gel method with the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS). The effects of PEG and MPS on morphology and bioactivity of the gel were investigated, The samples with the nominal compositions of Ca(NO₃)₂:TEOS:MPS = 30:70:0 and 30:63:7 (in molar ratio) were prepared with or without coexistence of PEG at a molar ratio of (TEOS+MPS):PEG = 70:0.16. Spherical powders were obtained regardless of the addition of MPS after removal of PEG by washing, whereas the samples prepared without PEG gave crack-free bulk bodies. Incorporation of MPS was confirmed form the results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). All the samples, regardless of addition of PEG and MPS, formed apatite on their surfaces in simulated body fluid (SBF), when washing time was 3 h during the preparation. These results show that the bioactive spherical powder of CaO-SiO₂: gel modified with MPS can be obtained by the present method. It is expected to induce the increase of the chemical bonding with surrounding organic matrix when it was used as fillers for composite materials.