Mechanical properties of dispersed ceramic nanoparticles in polymer composites for orthopedic applications.
Ceramic/polymer composites have been considered as third-generation orthopedic biomaterials due to their ability to closely match properties (such as surface, chemistry, biological, and mechanical) of natural bone. It has already been shown that the addition of nanophase compared with conventional (or micron-scale) ceramics to polymers enhances bone cell functions. However, in order to fully take advantage of the promising nanometer size effects that nanoceramics can provide when added to polymers, it is critical to uniformly disperse them in a polymer matrix. This is critical since ceramic nanoparticles inherently have a strong tendency to form larger agglomerates in a polymer matrix which may compromise their properties. Therefore, in this study, model ceramic nanoparticles, specifically titania and hydroxyapatite (HA), were dispersed in a model polymer (PLGA, poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid) using high-power ultrasonic energy. The mechanical properties of the resulting PLGA composites with well-dispersed ceramic (either titania or HA) nanoparticles were investigated and compared with composites with agglomerated ceramic nanoparticles. Results demonstrated that well-dispersed ceramic nanoparticles (titania or HA) in PLGA improved mechanical properties compared with agglomerated ceramic nanoparticles even though the weight percentage of the ceramics was the same. Specifically, well-dispersed nanoceramics in PLGA enhanced the tensile modulus, tensile strength at yield, ultimate tensile strength, and compressive modulus compared with the more agglomerated nanoceramics in PLGA. In summary, supplemented by previous studies that demonstrated greater osteoblast (bone-forming cell) functions on well-dispersed nanophase ceramics in polymers, the present study demonstrated that the combination of PLGA with well-dispersed nanoceramics enhanced mechanical properties necessary for load-bearing orthopedic/dental applications.
Liu
Huinan
H
Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
Webster
Thomas J
TJ
D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D006244:Hardness; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid
J Biomed Mater Res A. 2005 Jan 1;72(1):98-106
15538759
J Biomed Mater Res. 2001 Feb;54(2):284-93
11093189
J Biomed Mater Res A. 2010 Jun 1;93(3):1180-92
19777574
Biomaterials. 2006 Apr;27(11):2358-69
16337679
Int J Nanomedicine. 2006;1(4):541-5
17722285
Biomaterials. 2001 Jan;22(1):19-23
11085379
Nanomedicine (Lond). 2006 Jun;1(1):91-106
17716212
J Biomed Mater Res A. 2006 Sep 15;78(4):798-807
16741979
Science. 2007 Oct 5;318(5847):80-3
17916728
Biomaterials. 1998 Nov;19(21):1935-43
9863527
Science. 2000 Jan 28;287(5453):637-40
10649994
J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2000 Feb;11(2):101-9
15348054
J Biomed Mater Res. 1999 Dec 5;47(3):324-35
10487883
J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2004 Apr;15(4):419-22
15332610
Biomaterials. 2000 Dec;21(24):2529-43
11071603
J Biomed Mater Res A. 2004 Jun 15;69(4):728-37
15162415
J Biomed Mater Res A. 2003 Dec 15;67(4):1401-11
14624528
J Biomech. 1991;24(11):1059-68
1761582
Biomaterials. 2004 Aug;25(19):4749-57
15120521
Biomaterials. 2006 May;27(14):2798-805
16430957
Med Eng Phys. 1998 Mar;20(2):92-102
9679227