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Recent research on bone implant materials targets combination of resorption and sufficient mechanical properties [1]. Photopolymerizable degradable resins are particularly attractive to clinicians as they allow accurate control on initiation of the hardening process. However a major drawback is the difficulty to set them in vivo. We will demonstrate the introduction of a reactive filler into a light-curable, clinically used polymer and its effect on adhesion to wet bone surfaces in a close to in vivo setup (see figure) [2].
In this present study, we combine an advanced light-curable clinical polymer mixture consisting of bisphenol A diglycidyl methacrylate and tri(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (BisGMA/TEGDMA) with most recently developed reactive amorphous calcium phosphate (a-CaP) nanoparticles [3] as filler. Here we will present an investigation of in vitro biomineralization, compressive strength and preliminary tests on adhesion to bone. The hypothesis within this study is that the performance of the adhesive polymer can be increased through the incorporation of the inorganic filler. The incorporation of 20 wt.% amorphous calcium phosphate (a-CaP) nanoparticles in the adhesive polymer significantly improved the adhesion to wet bone.
This work gives access to light-curable polymers with significantly improved bone adhesion. New frontiers and possibilities in complex bone defects treatment using light-curing polymeric biomaterials to be discussed.
Figure 1: Adhesion to bone: (a) Schematic test setup. (b) Image of a glued polycarbonate rod on a fresh cut cow hip bone after light-curing of the sample. (c) Pull-out test in a conventional testing machine.
References: [1] J.L. Ifkovits, J.A. Burdick, Tiss. Eng., 2007, 13(10), 2369.
[3] T.J. Brunner, M. Bohner, C. Dora, C. Gerber, W.J. Stark, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. Part B, 2007, 83, 400.
See more of this Group/Topical: Materials Engineering and Sciences Division