Composites of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel and calcium and magnesium phosphate formed by enzymatic functionalization

More mineral was formed in hydrogels incubated in CaGP than in MgGP. Rheometry revealed that mechanical strength (storage modulus) decreased in the order: CaGP>MgGP>water. Physicochemical charaterization showed that hydrogels incubated in CaGP appeared to be mineralized with apatite and amorphous CaP, while hydrogels incubated in MgGP appeared to be mineralized with plate-like MgP crystals and amorphous MgP. Hydrogels incubated in water were devoid of mineralization. Cell viability testing showed that proliferation on hydrogels incubated in MgGP was comparable to that on non-mineralized samples and superior to that on hydrogels incubated in CaGP. The results prove the principle of enzymatic mineralization of PVA hydrogels with CaP and MgP. Further work may concentrate on in vivo evaluation of the suitability of these mineralized hydrogels for bone or osteochondral regeneration applications.