Morphological and topographic effects on calcification tendency of pHEMA hydrogels

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels were prepared in the presence of varying concentrations of water, or a co-monomer ethoxyethyl methacrylate at different strengths of crosslinking agent ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. Calcification tendency and its correlation with monomer mixture composition, topography and porosity of these materials were investigated. Scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study topography and porosity respectively. Calcification and calcium diffusion ability in to the hydrogels were investigated by light microscopy, SEM and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) after incubation of the materials in a metastable calcifying solution for 48 days. Polymer and solvent volume fractions were also studied to determine if a correlation existed between porosity and calcification. Most of the series of hydrogels showed surface irregularities. Internal structure showed evidence of a porous structure in one of the series. Calcification studies indicated diffusion of calcium ions in some of the series. The diffusion of calcium is limited to 30–40 μm in most calcified specimens. For hydrogels that exhibited substantial surface irregularities and micro channels, the infiltration of calcium up to 200 μm was observed. Attempts to detect porosity by electron microscopy failed in some of the hydrogels due to difficulty in sample processing and sectioning. However, collaboration of the results with different techniques used, indicated that surface defects are the major contributors to calcium deposition. Decrease in porosity reduces the amount of calcium deposits and infiltration with decreasing solvent volume fraction which is associated with crosslinking concentration and initial water content of the polymer.