Search

Acrylic bone cements based on PMMA have been used for more than four decades in orthopaedics for the fixation of joint replacements to bone tissue. One of the most widely used ceramics as filling of these cements is hydroxyapatite (HA), which is the main inorganic component of bone tissue. The aim of this work is the preparation and characterization of different formulations of acrylic bone cements modified with micro and nanoparticles of HA. The study was carried out using two types of HA: Porous Coralina® HAP-200 and HA nanoparticles obtained by wet precipitation, both silanized. Several formulations were prepared with different content of HA an immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 30 days. The characterization was conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to an EDX device. Besides, were evaluated the mechanical properties of compressive strength and traction according to ISO 5833 and ASTM D638 respectively. The modified bone cements with micro and nanoparticles of HA in 30 and 55% present values of compressive and tensile strength higher than those set by the standard. In addition, is observed the formation of apatitic structures in the surface of the cements after 30 days of soaking in SBF. The formulations modified with HA nanoparticles shown higher bioactivity properties in comparison with the modified with Porous Coralina® HAP-200. The aggregation of synthetic HA nanoparticles caused a decrease in the mechanical properties evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]