Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization-Based Synthesis of CaCO3 Nanoparticle-Reinforced Polymeric Monoliths for Tissue Engineering

• Published in: Macromolecular rapid communications 2010-09, Vol.31 (17), p.1540-1545
• Main Authors: Weichelt, Franziska, Frerich, Bernhard, Lenz, Solvig, Tiede, Stefanie, Buchmeiser, Michael R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Medical sciences; monoliths; nanocomposites; nanoparticles; Polymer industry, paints, wood; ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP); Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; synthesis; Technology of polymers; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; tissue engineering
• ISSN: 1022-1336; 1521-3927
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.201000317

Porous monolithic materials have been prepared via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization from norborn‐2‐ene and a 7‐oxanorborn‐2‐ene‐based cross‐linker in the presence of porogenic solvents (i.e., 2‐propanol and toluene) and norborn‐2‐enephosphonate surface‐modified CaCO3 nanoparticles, using the 3rd‐generation Grubbs‐initiator RuCl2(Py)2(IMesH2)(CHPh). The experimental setup and the conditions chosen allowed for the manufacturing of polymeric monoliths characterized by a homogeneous distribution of the inorganic nanoparticles throughout the polymeric monolith. Depending on the nanoparticle content, the macropore diameters could be varied in the 30–120 µm regime. Noteworthy, the addition of nanoparticles did not affect the phase separation‐triggered formation of the monolithic matrix nor the meso‐ and microporosity as evidenced by N2‐adsorption experiments. Porous monolithic materials with macropores in the 30–120 μm regime have been prepared via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization from norborn‐2‐ene and a 7‐oxanorborn‐2‐ene‐based cross‐linker in the presence of porogenic solvents and of surface‐modified CaCO3 nanoparticles using the 3rd‐generation Grubbs‐ initiator RuCl2(Py)2(IMesH2)(CHPh). A homogeneous distribution of the inorganic nanoparticles throughout the polymeric monolith was achieved. The CaCO3 nanoparticle‐filled monoliths were subjected to cell cultivation experiments using adipose tissue‐derived stem cells (ATSCs).