[Study on polysiloxane resin-based composites for bone surgery application]

The study aimed at determination of mechanical and biological properties of three types of carbon fibers-based composites differing in matrix as potential materials for bone surgery. Three types of polymethylphenyl siloxane resins (produced by Lucebni zavody, Kolin, Czech Republic) differing with Si/C ratio were used as matrix. Carbon fibers T-300 (Torayca) were used as the reinforcement. The composite samples were manufactured by liquid impregnation of carbon roving followed by thermal curing. The resins were characterized by means of infrared spectroscopy. The strength and Young's modulus of the composite samples were determined in three-point bending test. The MTT tests were led in the presence of line KMA human macrophages and line hFOB 1.19 human osteoblasts. The results presented in this work indicate that mechanical properties of the composites are adequate from viewpoint of bone surgery requirement for load-bearing implants. The viability of macrophages cultures in contact with all examined samples was higher than 85%. The highest viability of human osteoblasts was obtained for composites based on L 901 and L 4102 resins-above 60%. The results suggest that the investigated polysiloxane-based composites are biocompatible, however their possible use as implants needs further study.