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Surface reaction layer formation in vitro on a bioactive glass fiber/polymeric composite
M Marcolongo1, P Ducheyne, W C LaCourse
1Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
|November 22, 1997
Summary
Bioactive glass fibers were developed for hip prostheses, showing enhanced strength and forming a bone-like layer in simulated body fluid. These composite materials demonstrate potential for improved bone fixation in implants.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Orthopedic Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Polymeric composite femoral hip prostheses require effective fixation to bone tissue.
- Bioactive materials are crucial for promoting osseointegration and implant stability.
- Developing novel bioactive materials with enhanced mechanical properties is essential for orthopedic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and characterize bioactive glass fibers for use as a fixation vehicle in composite hip prostheses.
- To investigate the bioactivity of these glass fibers and their composites in simulated body fluid.
- To evaluate the formation of a calcium phosphate layer and its implications for bone integration.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of bioactive glass fibers with enhanced tensile strength.
- Immersion of glass fibers and composites in protein-free and protein-containing simulated body fluids.
- Surface analysis to observe the formation of calcium phosphate layers using techniques like SEM and XRD (implied).
- Mechanical testing of glass fibers to determine tensile strength.
Main Results:
- Bioactive glass fibers exhibited a tensile strength 14 times greater than bulk bioactive glass.
- A calcium phosphate layer (partially crystallized, calcium-deficient carbonated hydroxyapatite) formed on glass fibers in simulated body fluid.
- This layer formation occurred in both protein-free and protein-containing solutions, albeit slower in the presence of proteins.
- A bioactivity reaction "halo" was observed on the polymer surface surrounding the glass fibers within the composite.
Conclusions:
- The fabricated bioactive glass fibers possess superior mechanical properties and demonstrate in vitro bioactivity.
- The glass fiber-polymer composites show potential for enhanced osseointegration due to surface bioactivity.
- These findings suggest the developed glass fibers and composites are promising candidates for orthopedic implant applications.