Synthesis and biomimetic mineralization of l -proline substituted polyphosphazenes as bulk and nanofiber

Abstract

This work presents the synthesis of polyphosphazenes bearing L-proline methyl ester (ProOMe) and 4-hydroxy-l-proline methyl ester (HypOMe), aiming for new bioactive polymers for bone repair. The polymers were characterized by 1H and 31P NMR, FTIR, DSC, and TGA. Electrospun fibers were prepared using poly[bis(l-proline methyl ester)phosphazene] (PProP), and their potential for biomimetic mineralization, as well as the bulk material, were tested in simulated body fluid (1×SBF). Samples were analyzed between 24 h and 3 weeks of incubation using SEM/EDS and FTIR. After 24 h, spherical and flower-like shapes of calcium phosphates (CaP) were crystallized on the bulk samples. The nanofibers presented spherical CaP crystals attached to them after 48 h of incubation. The Ca/P molar ratio of the crystals varied from 1.5 to 1.6. According to this study, PProP presents bioactivity in vitro, and its fibers offer sites for CaP nucleation like the collagen fibers in bone. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.