Injectable carbon nanotube-reinforced calcium phosphate bone cements with high-strength and improved osteogenesis for
Meng Wu1, Yucheng Zhou2, Zhanxiang He2
1School of Mechanical Engineering and Rail Transit, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, PR China; Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Province for Craniofacial Precision Medicine Research, College of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, PR China; School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, PR China.
Abstract:
Although brushite bone cements have achieved good results for bone defect repair, their disadvantages such as too fast setting, poor handling ability, and low compressive strength, were a big challenge in clinical application. In order to solve these problems, a novel injectable carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-reinforced brushite bone cement (denoting as BrMo/CNTs-CHP) with enhanced compressive strength and biological characteristics was successfully developed. The results showed that the liquid phase containing citric acid (CA), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) significantly prolonged the setting time, and improved the injectability and resistance to washout of BrMo/CNTs-CHP bone cements while the addition of CNTs effectively enhanced its compressive strength owing to the nano-filling and bridging effect. However, too many CNTs increased the injection force and decreased slightly the compressive strength and flowability of the cement. Additionally, BrMo/CNTs-CHP bone cements induced apatite deposition and showed good biocompatibility, which can effectively promote osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). In vivo experimental results demonstrated that BrMo/CNTs-CHP had good bone regeneration ability. Therefore, BrMo/CNTs-CHP is a promising injectable bone cement for bone repair and regeneration.
