Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

Ceramic Omnidirectional Bioprinting in Cell-Laden Suspensions for the Generation of Bone Analogs
Published on: August 8, 2022
Polymer brush controlled bioinspired calcium phosphate mineralization and bone cell growth
Ruben Löbbicke1, Munish Chanana, Helmut Schlaad
1Institute of Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str 24-25, D-14476 Golm, Germany.
Abstract:
Polymer brushes on thiol-modified gold surfaces were synthesized by using terminal thiol groups for the surface-initiated free radical polymerization of methacrylic acid and dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, respectively. Atomic force microscopy shows that the resulting poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) brushes are homogeneous. Contact angle measurements show that the brushes are pH-responsive and can reversibly be protonated and deprotonated. Mineralization of the brushes with calcium phosphate at different pH yields homogeneously mineralized surfaces, and preosteoblastic cells proliferate on both the nonmineralized and mineralized surfaces. The number of living cells on the mineralized hybrid surfaces is ca. 3 times (PDMAEMA) and 10 times (PMAA) higher than on the corresponding nonmineralized brushes.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Bone Matrix
Essential Minerals for Bone Health
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
Bone Remodeling and Repair

