Biodegradable polymer–lipid monolayers as templates for calcium phosphate mineralization

A combination of poly([R]-3-hydroxy-10-undecenoate) (PHUE), a biodegradable polymer from the group of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and lipids of different head groups was used to support the growth of calcium phosphate, the main component of mammalian bones. Crystallization took place under two-dimensional films (Langmuir monolayers). The addition of a negatively charged lipid, 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine, to a PHUE film led to the formation of lipid domains (rich in negative charge), and resulted in excellent mineralization control: crystals with uniform size and morphology were formed. The results show that carefully optimized combinations of materials can lead to better control of calcium phosphate crystallization compared to one-component organic scaffolds.