Physical and Mechanical Properties of PMMA Bone Cement Reinforced with Nano-sized Titania Fibers

Abstract

X-ray contrast medium (BaSO(4) or ZrO(2)) used in commercially available PMMA bone cements imparts a detrimental effect on mechanical properties, particularly on flexural strength and fracture toughness. These lower properties facilitate the chance of implant loosening resulting from cement mantle failure. The present study was performed to examine the mechanical properties of a commercially available cement (CMW1) by introducing novel nanostructured titania fibers (n-TiO(2) fibers) into the cement matrix, with the fibers acting as a reinforcing phase. The hydrophilic nature of the n-TiO(2) fibers was modified by using a bifunctional monomer, methacrylic acid. The n-TiO(2) fiber content of the cement was varied from 0 to 2 wt%. Along with the mechanical properties (fracture toughness (K (IC)), flexural strength (FS), and flexural modulus (FM)) of the reinforced cements the following properties were investigated: complex viscosity-versus-time, maximum polymerization temperature (T (max)), dough time (t (dough)), setting time (t (set)), radiopacity, and in vitro biocompatibility. On the basis of the determined mechanical properties, the optimized composition was found at 1 wt% n-TiO(2) fibers, which provided a significant increase in K (IC) (63%), FS (20%), and FM (22%), while retaining the handling properties and in vitro biocompatibility compared to that exhibited by the control cement (CMW1). Moreover, compared to the control cement, there was no significant change in the radiopacity of any of the reinforced cements at p = 0.05. This study demonstrated a novel pathway to augment the mechanical properties of PMMA-based cement by providing an enhanced interfacial interaction and strong adhesion between the functionalized n-TiO( 2) fibers and PMMA matrix, which enhanced the effective load transfer within the cement.

Modified Bone Cement: A Reprieve for Horizontal Bone Defects

“…15 However, addition of steel fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, and titanium fibers improves the mechanical strength, [16][17][18] while PMMA matrix interspersed with rubber particles can increase the fracture toughness of the material. 19 Embedded stainless steel coil increases the compressive strength of the material, 20 but the steel coils may interfere with its usefulness as a reconstructive material in dentulous sites.…”

Bone tissue engineering using silica-based mesoporous nanobiomaterials:Recent progress

“…In an effort to enhance the static and dynamic mechanical properties of bone cement, reinforcement materials can be incorporated within the powder or monomer component prior to mixing. A wide variety of materials have been investigated such as carbon nanotubes [76], titanium oxide fibers [77] zirconia fibers, and polyethylene terephthalate fibers [78], along with others. Issues regarding interfacial adhesion, high stiffness and poor handling characteristics have generally prevented these composite cements from transitioning from the bench top to clinical practice, despite several encouraging in vitro results [79].…”

Acrylic Bone Cements: The Role of Nanotechnology in Improving Osteointegration and Tunable Mechanical Properties

“…104 Agglomeration of the nanofiller represents a major problem in the preparation of bone cements as it leads to an uneven distribution of the radiopacifier among the polymer matrix and poor performance of the composite. In order to avoid the nanophase agglomeration, functionalization of the nanoparticles is one of the most common strategies.…”

“…The radiopacity of cements containing 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 wt% loading of functionalized n-TiO 2 fibers was determined, using a commercially available bone cement CMW ® 1 (Depuy, Warsaw, IN). 104 It is important to notice that with the addition of 6% BaSO 4 particles, CMW ® 1 exhibits a radiopacity value of 0. 35 significantly when the same commercial bone cement was loaded with n-TiO 2 up to 2 wt% (p = 0 05).…”