Biomimic mineralization of hard tissues with hierarchical structures is a challenging task, while designing multifunctional materials possessing both the ability of biomimic mineralization and drug delivery is even more difficult. Herein, inspired by the multilevel structure and mineralization ability of amelogenin, a novel carboxyl-functionalized covalent organic framework (COF) nanosphere material was designed and synthesized, which exhibited a significant biomimetic remineralization ability as demonstrated on SiO2 glass, Ti6Al4V, and an acid-etched enamel surface. Furthermore, the nanoporous structure also enables the COF nanospheres to serve as a drug delivery system for the controlled release of antibacterial drugs. This work provides a promising strategy for the design of multifunctional biomimic materials.
Keywords: antibacteria; biomimetic mineralization; covalent organic frameworks; drug delivery; enamel repair; hydroxyapatite.