Abstract
Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polysulphone (PSu) are biocompatible polymers and are used widely for biomedical applications. In this study, a blend membrane of PMMA/PSu was fabricated using methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) as the blending agent and its properties were studied. Subsequently, a composite membrane consisting of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) filler dispersed in a polymer matrix of PMMA/PSu was fabricated and evaluated for application as an orthopaedic prosthetic material. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy spectra of the blend confirmed the interaction of PMMA and PSu with the blending agent MBA. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed that PMMA/PSu membranes exhibited a higher degree of crystallinity when compared with that of the individual polymers. The thermal properties of the samples studied by thermogravimetric analysis showed an increase in the thermal stability of the PMMA/PSu when compared with individual PMMA and PSu membranes. The morphology of the composite samples analysed through SEM showed that the fillers were widely distributed and agglomerated at certain places. The tensile strength of the PMMA/PSu/β-TCP was found to be inferior to that of PMMA/β-TCP although much superior to that of PSu/β-TCP composite membranes. Hardness testing performed using durometer hardness tester (Shore D) showed that the PMMA/PSu/β-TCP samples exhibited higher hardness than the composites having individual PMMA and PSu matrices. Analysis of the optical properties of the polymer membranes suggested good blend formation between PMMA and PSu. The in vitro bioactivity study suggested that the density of the calcium phosphate layer formed on the surface of PMMA/PSu/β-TCP was much higher than that of composites made of either PMMA or PSu matrix. The results of the study showed that the blended composite membranes exhibited favourable properties for biomedical applications such as for orthopaedic prostheses.
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