Novel Acrylic Bone Cement Containing Graphene Oxide: Synthesis and Characterization

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Orthopedic Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement is a standard in orthopedic procedures like knee replacements.
• Current PMMA bone cement formulations have seen limited innovation.
• Graphene oxide (GO) shows potential for improving orthopedic cement properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of varying graphene oxide (GO) concentrations on the mechanical properties, cytocompatibility, and antibacterial efficacy of PMMA bone cement.
• To determine the optimal GO concentration for enhanced orthopedic cement performance.

Main Methods:

• PMMA bone cement was modified with GO at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.0% (wt%).
• Mechanical properties were evaluated using four-point bending tests.
• Cytocompatibility was assessed with mouse embryonic fibroblasts (NIH/3T3).
• Antibacterial activity against *Staphylococcus aureus* was tested using a modified direct contact assay.

Main Results:

• GO incorporation significantly increased Young's modulus and improved tensile and flexural strength at 0.1% GO.
• Cytocompatibility remained unaffected across tested concentrations.
• Antibacterial activity was concentration-dependent, with 0.25% and 0.5% GO demonstrating significant inhibition up to 48 hours.

Conclusions:

• PMMA bone cement modified with 0.25 wt% GO exhibits enhanced mechanical properties and effective antibacterial activity without compromising biocompatibility.
• This optimized PMMA-GO composite shows promise for advanced orthopedic applications.