Physicochemical property and cytocompatibility of HyA-PEG loaded PMMA based bone cement

Abstract

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been widely used as a biomaterial for orthopedic applications. However, the major complications of this bone cement are the increased fracture rate of the adjacent vertebral bodies and the elevated polymerization temperature. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PMMA bone cement in the presence of gel phase in terms of superior mechanical and cellular characteristics. Porous PMMA cement was prepared by using a Hyaluronic acid (HyA) and Polyethyleneglycol (PEG) which act as an aqueous gel phase and provide a major contribution for pore formation. Simulated body fluid (SBF) treatment on cements showed the compressive strength and elastic modulus of PMMA-10%HyA-10%PEG was significantly decreased from-22 MPa to-16 MPa and-159 MPa to-135 respectively. The degradation behaviour results revealed after SBF treatment showed porous formation. In addition, aqueous gel reduced the polymerization temperature from-63 degrees C to-52 degrees C. The aqueous gel phase did not affect apatite formation and maintained nearly physiological pH. Further in-vitro cellular activities ensured the biocompatibility and osteogenic potential of PMMA-10%HyA-10%PEG. These results suggest that PMMA-10%HyA-10%PEG bone cements possess distinctive mechanical and physicochemical properties, and are suitable cement for cellular functionalities.