Preparation of hydroxyapatite hydrogel for bone-like materials via novel self-initiated photocatalytic polymerization

Here, a novel polyacrylamide (PAM)/hydroxyapatite (HA) composite hydrogel was prepared by the self initiation of hydroxyapatite via its photocatalytic activity. The radical used as the initiator was produced during irradiation and can initiate the formation of the well-distributed HA in the PAM/HA composite. The in vitro bioactivity in SBF of the novel self-initiated PAM/HA(Ti) hydrogel was faster and better than the conventionally synthesized polyacrylamide hydrogel. The faster formation and larger amount of new apatite in SBF can be observed in the SEM images. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.