Acrylic Bone Cement Incorporated with Low Chitosan Loadings

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Orthopedic Engineering
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Acrylic bone cement (ABC) is widely used in orthopedics.
• Chitosan (CS) incorporation into ABC shows potential for enhanced properties.
• Limited in vitro studies exist for ABC-CS composites with CS loading > 15 wt.% and long-term bioactivity assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the in vitro bioactivity and comprehensive properties of acrylic bone cement (ABC) loaded with chitosan (CS).
• To evaluate the effect of varying CS concentrations (0-20 wt.%) on cement characteristics.
• To address the literature gap regarding long-term bioactivity of ABC-CS composites.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized ABC-CS composites with CS loadings from 0 to 20 wt.%.
• Assessed bioactivity in simulated body fluid (SBF) for durations exceeding 30 days.
• Determined key properties: maximum exotherm temperature (T), setting time (t), water contact angle, residual monomer content, flexural strength, bending modulus, glass transition temperature, and water uptake.

Main Results:

• Composites with CS loading ≥ 15 wt.% exhibited increased bioactivity and biocompatibility.
• Higher CS loadings led to a decrease in maximum exotherm temperature (T) and an increase in setting time (t).
• Undesirable trends included increased residual monomer content and decreased mechanical properties (flexural strength, bending modulus) with higher CS loading.

Conclusions:

• Acrylic bone cement (ABC) loaded with 15 wt.% chitosan (CS) demonstrates promising bioactivity and biocompatibility.
• The trade-off between improved bioactivity and reduced mechanical strength necessitates further investigation.
• The 15 wt.% CS composite warrants characterization for low-weight-bearing orthopedic applications like bone void fillers and balloon kyphoplasty.