Cellular Response to Sol-Gel Hybrid Materials Releasing Boron and Calcium Ions.

Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)-SiO-CaO-based hybrid materials prepared by sol-gel have proved to be very promising materials for tissue engineering applications and drug-delivery systems. These hybrids are biocompatible and present osteogenic and bioactive properties supporting osteoblast attachment and bone growth. The incorporation of therapeutic elements in these materials, such as boron (B) and calcium (Ca), was considered in this study as an approach to develop biomaterials capable of stimulating bone regeneration.