Acrylic cement formulations modified with calcium deficient apatite nanoparticles for orthopaedic applications

Abstract

Polymethyl methacrylate-based bone cements are used worldwide by the orthopaedic surgeons to secure joint implants with the skeleton. However, the clinical use of this cement is accompanied by complications such as exothermic heat produced during the polymerization reaction, lack of bone bonding ability and shrinkage to name a few. In the present work, the effect of incorporation of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite nanoparticles on the properties of a commercially available orthopaedic bone cement matrix has been investigated. Initial and final setting time of the cement has been found to decrease with calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite nanoparticles addition. The exothermic heat dissipation during the polymerization has been found to significantly decrease with the calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite nanoparticle incorporation in the bone cement. Contact angle study revealed that with the increasing percentage of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite nanoparticle, the composite cement becomes more hydrophilic. In vitro biomineralization study confirmed the bioactivity of the nanocomposite bone cement with the formation of primary and secondary apatite on the cement surface. Present study suggests that the incorporation of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite nanoparticle into the orthopaedic bone cements could help to overcome some of the shortcomings of the orthopaedic cement.