Development of a bovine collagen-apatitic calcium phosphate cement for potential fracture treatment through vertebroplasty.
The aim of this study was to examine the potential of incorporating bovine fibres as a means of reinforcing a typically brittle apatite calcium phosphate cement for vertebroplasty. Type I collagen derived from bovine Achilles tendon was ground cryogenically to produce an average fibre length of 0.96±0.55 mm and manually mixed into the powder phase of an apatite-based cement at 1, 3 or 5 wt.%. Fibre addition of up to 5 wt.% had a significant effect (P ≤ 0.001) on the fracture toughness, which was increased by 172%. Adding ≤ 1 wt.% bovine collagen fibres did not compromise the compressive properties significantly, however, a decrease of 39-53% was demonstrated at ≥ 3wt.% fibre loading. Adding bovine collagen to the calcium phosphate cement reduced the initial and final setting times to satisfy the clinical requirements stated for vertebroplasty. The cement viscosity increased in a linear manner (R²=0.975) with increased loading of collagen fibres, such that the injectability was found to be reduced by 83% at 5 wt.% collagen loading. This study suggests for the first time the potential application of a collagen-reinforced calcium phosphate cement as a viable option in the treatment of vertebral fractures, however, issues surrounding efficacious cement delivery need to be addressed.
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast, UK.
Rochelle M
RM
O'Hara
John F
JF
Orr
Fraser J
FJ
Buchanan
Ruth K
RK
Wilcox
David C
DC
Barton
Nicholas J
NJ
Dunne
D000818:Animals; D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019245:Compressive Strength; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D008422:Materials Testing; D012212:Rheology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013997:Time Factors; D054854:Vertebroplasty; D014783:Viscosity
D001031:Apatites; D001843:Bone Cements; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D003094:Collagen; C020243:calcium phosphate