Facile Synthesis of TiO(2)–SiO(2)–P(2)O(5)/CaO/ZnO with a Core–Shell Structure for Bone Implantation

[Image: see text] A facile synthesis method was developed to synthesize TiO(2)–SiO(2)–P(2)O(5)/CaO or TiO(2)–SiO(2)–P(2)O(5)/ZnO with a core–shell structure. The carboxylic cation exchanger Tokem-250 has a high selectivity for Ca(2+)/Zn(2+) ions and was used in this study. The framework of the material in the shell was TiO(2)–SiO(2)–P(2)O(5), and the inner part was filled with CaO (sample TiO(2)–SiO(2)/CaO) or ZnO (sample TiO(2)–SiO(2)–P(2)O(5)/ZnO). A stepwise heat treatment (drying in a drying oven at 60 °C for 30 min, then annealing in a muffle furnace for 30 min at 150, 250, and 350 °C, at 600 °C for 6 h, and at 800 °C for 1 h) was needed to obtain a homogeneous material. The poly(vinyl alcohol) was used as a binding additive. The obtained composites were characterized by a regular structure and highly developed surface. The samples exhibit bioactive properties in the simulated body fluid (SBF) solution, since the surface contains active centers (Si(4+), Ti(4+)) which contribute to mineralization and precipitation of the calcium-phosphate compounds on the surface from biological media. The TiO(2)–SiO(2)–P(2)O(5)/CaO-PVA samples did not exceed acceptable hemolysis levels for medical materials.