Bioactive titania-based organic–inorganic hybrids synthesized via sol–gel

In the present work, the synthesis of organic–inorganic hybrid (OIH) materials for biomedical applications is described. Two types of OIH systems are prepared by means of a sol–gel process, both consisting of a titania matrix. The use of two different biocompatible thermoplastic polymers as organic component is evaluated: the poly(-caprolactone) and the poly(ether-imide). The formation of the hybrid structure is ascertained by scanning electron microscopy, whereas the identification of the interactions between the organic and the inorganic phases is obtained by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, a preliminary evaluation of the osseointegration ability of the obtained material is investigated by soaking the synthesized OIHs in a simulated body fluid to follow the ability of the materials to induce the hydroxyapatite nucleation. The results show that all OIHs are bioactive and, thus, potentially suitable for the implants’ design.