Apatite-forming ability and mechanical properties of CaO-free poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO)-TiO₂ hybrids treated with hot water

Poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO)-TiO₂ hybrids were prepared by a sol-gel method from triethoxysilane-functionalized PTMO (Si-PTMO) and tetraisopropyltitanate with weight ratios of 30/70, 40/60 and 50/50 (hybrids PT30, PT40 and PT50, respectively), and subsequently subjected to a hot-water treatment at 95°C for 2d. All the obtained hybrids were amorphous before the hot-water treatment, and precipitated nanosized anatase after the hot-water treatment. The amount of precipitated anatase increased with decreasing PTMO content. Apatite was not formed on the surfaces of the hybrids in a simulated body fluid before the hot-water treatment, but was formed after the hot-water treatment, and its amount increased with decreasing PTMO content. Hybrid PT40 showed strength and Young's modulus analogous to those of human cancellous bones, and high ductility after the hot-water treatment. This kind of hybrid is expected to be useful as a new type of bone-repairing material.