title: Processing, properties, and in vitro bioactivity of polysulfone-bioactive glass composites.
abstract: The mismatch between the mechanical properties of bioceramics and natural tissue has restricted in several cases a wider application of ceramics in medical and dental fields. To overcome this problem, polymer matrix composites can be designed to combine bioactive properties of some bioceramics with the superior mechanical properties of some engineering plastics. In this work, polymer particulate composites composed of a high mechanical-property polymer and bioactive glass particles were produced and both the in vitro bioactivity and properties of the system were investigated. Composites with different volume fraction and particle size were prepared. In vitro tests showed that hydroxy-carbonate-apatite can be deposited on the surface of a composite as early as 20 h in a simulated body fluid. Ionic evolution from a composite with 40% volume fraction of particles was demonstrated to be similar to bulk bioactive glasses. The mechanical properties of some of the obtained composites had values comparable with the ones reported for bone. Moreover, a physical model based on dynamical mechanical tests showed evidences that the interface of the composite was aiding in the stress transfer process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais, R. Espírito Santo 35/206--Belo Horizonte, MG 30160-030, Brazil. rorefice@demet.ufmg.br
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oréfice
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hench
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D002254:Carbonates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002516:Ceramics / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D005898:Glass; D019563:Mechanics; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers; D013450:Sulfones
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002254:Carbonates; D003188:Composite Resins; D011108:Polymers; D013450:Sulfones; C413465:hydroxycarbonate apatite; C017662:polysulfone P 1700