[Preparation of nano-nacre artificial bone].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the improvements in the properties of nano-nacre artificial bone prepared on the basis of nacre/polylactide acid composite artificial bone and its potential for clinical use.


METHODS
The compound of nano-scale nacre powder and poly-D, L-lactide acid (PDLLA) was used to prepare the cylindrical hollow artificial bone, whose properties including raw material powder scale, pore size, porosity and biomechanical characteristics were compared with another artificial bone made of micron-scale nacre powder and PDLLA.


RESULTS
Scanning electron microscope showed that the average particle size of the nano-nacre powder was 50.4-/+12.4 nm, and the average pore size of the artificial bone prepared using nano-nacre powder was 215.7-/+77.5 microm, as compared with the particle size of the micron-scale nacre powder of 5.0-/+3.0 microm and the pore size of the resultant artificial bone of 205.1-/+72.0 microm. The porosities of nano-nacre artificial bone and the micron-nacre artificial bone were (65.4-/+2.9)% and (53.4-/+2.2)%, respectively, and the two artificial bones had comparable compressive strength and Young's modulus, but the flexural strength of the nano-nacre artificial bone was lower than that of the micro-nacre artificial bone.


CONCLUSIONS
The nano-nacre artificial bone allows better biodegradability and possesses appropriate pore size, porosity and biomechanical properties for use as a promising material in bone tissue engineering.
Chen
Jian-ting
JT
Department of Spinal and Orthopedics Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. chenjt99@sino.com
Tang
Yong-zhi
YZ
Zhang
Jian-gang
JG
Wang
Jian-jun
JJ
Xiao
Ying
Y
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013718:Tensile Strength
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D002119:Calcium Carbonate