title: Degradable phosphate glass fiber reinforced polymer matrices: mechanical properties and cell response.
abstract: The development of biodegradable materials for internal fracture fixation is of great interest, as they would both eliminate the problem of stress shielding and obviate the need for a second operation to remove fixation devices. Preliminary investigations for the production of degradable fiber reinforced polymer composite materials are detailed. Composites were produced of phosphate invert glass fibers of the glass system P(2)O(5)-CaO-MgO-Na(2)O-TiO(2), which showed a low solubility in previous work. The fibers were embedded into a matrix of a degradable organic polymer network based on methacrylate-modified oligolactide. Fracture behavior, bending strength and elastic modulus were evaluated during 3-point bending tests and the fracture surface of the composites was investigated using a scanning electron microscope. Short-term biocompatibility was tested in an FDA/EtBr viability assay using MC3T3-E1 murine pre-osteoblast cells and showed a good cell compatibility of the composite materials. Results suggested that these composite materials are biocompatible and show mechanical properties which are of interest for the production of degradable bone fixation devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK. d.brauer@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Delia S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Brauer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rüssel
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weisser
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schnabelrauch
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003764:Dental Materials; D008689:Methacrylates; D010710:Phosphates; D011108:Polymers