Sol-gel synthesis and characterization of SiO2/PCL hybrid materials containing quercetin as new materials for antioxidant implants.

The development of biomaterials with intrinsic antioxidant properties could represent a valuable strategy for preventing peri-implant disease onset. In this context quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, has been entrapped, at different weight percentages in a silica/poly(ε-caprolactone)-based hybrid material by a sol-gel route. FT-IR and UV spectroscopic techniques were employed in order to characterize the hybrids. FT-IR analysis indicated changes in stretching frequencies of the quercetin dienonic moiety, suggesting that a flavonol oxidized derivative was formed during the sol-gel process. The establishment of hydrogen-bonded interactions between quercetin and silica and polymer matrices,was strongly affected by the amount of polymer. Poly(ε-caprolactone) did not interact with quercetin when it was loaded at high doses (50 wt.%). The morphology of the synthesized materials was observed by using SEM. The obtained images proved that the materials are hybrid nanocomposites. Their bioactivity was shown by the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer on samples' surface soaked in a fluid simulating the composition of the human plasma. The antiradical properties of the investigated systems were evaluated by DPPH and ABTS methods and their cytotoxicity by the MTT assay. Data obtained revealed that the synthesized materials are biocompatible and that the hybrid system,with 6 wt.% of PCL and 15 wt.% of quercetin, produced the strongest antiradical efficacy.