Novel sol-gel bioactive fibers

Abstract

Bioactive fibers were produced using a sol-gel method. The rheological properties of two different sol compositions prepared from a mixture of TEOS, phosphorous alkoxide and calcium nitrate, or calcium chloride in a water–ethanol solution, are reported. The sols were extruded through a spinneret to produce continuous 10 μm-diameter fibers. Discontinuous fibers and fibrous mats were prepared by air-spraying the multicomponent sols. The sol-gel fibers were converted to the bioactive fibers by three different thermal treatments at either 600°, 700°, or 900°C for 3 h. SEM, BET, EDX, and FTIR were used to characterize the morphology and structure of the fibers. The BET measured surface area of the fibers sintered at 900°C was 0 m²/gm compared to a value of 200 m²/gm for a typical sol-gel-derived particle of similar composition. Both the continuous and discontinuous fibers exhibited in vitro bioactivity in a simulated body fluid. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 55: 460–467, 2001