Novel sol-gel bioactive fibers

Bioactive fibers were produced using a sol-gel method. The theological prop erties of two different sol com positions prepared from a mixture of TEOS, phosphorous alkoxide and calcium nitrate, or calcium chloride in a water-et hanol solution, are reported. The sols were extruded through a spinneret to produce continuous 10 mum-diameter fibers. Discontinuous fibers and fibrou s mats were prepared by air-spraying the multicomponent sols. The sol-gel f ibers were converted to the bioactive fibers by three different thermal tre atments at either 600 degrees, 700 degrees, or 900 degreesC for 3 h. SEM, B ET, 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 de greesC was 0 m(2)/gm compared to a value of 200 m(2)/gm for a typical sol-g el-derived particle of similar composition. Both the continuous and discont inuous fibers exhibited in vitro bioactivity in a simulated body fluid. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.