Mechanical and Antibacterial Properties of Bone Cement Composites Containing Silver Nanoparticles Compounded with Various Types of Chitosan

Abstract

To analyze the mechanical and antibacterial properties of bone cement composites that contain silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) compounded with chitosan (CS) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS). An oxidation-reduction reaction was performed under sonic oscillation to prepare ten percent wt% AgNPs, CS-AgNPs and CMCS-AgNPs, which were subsequently mixed with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The compressive and bending strengths of these nanoparticles were measured before and after the samples were soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF). The Kirby-Bauer (K-B) method and flask oscillation method were used to evaluate the antibacterial effects of the composites. The compressive and bending strengths of the AgNP, CS-AgNP, and CMCS-AgNP groups were significantly improved (P < 0.001). After the AgNP, CS-AgNP, and CMCS-AgNP groups were soaked in SBF, their bending strengths were significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.001). The K-B test showed that only the 5 wt% and 10 wt% CMCS-AgNP groups exhibited bacteriostatic rings for Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Flask oscillation analyses revealed that the 5 wt% and 10 wt% CMCS-AgNP exhibited good bacteriostatic activity against S. aureus, but good activity against MRSA was only observed for the 10 wt% CMCS-AgNP group. We developed CS/CMCS-AgNP bone cement composites that show good mechanical properties and antibacterial activity.