Abstract
Some treatment options available to repair bone defects are the use of autogenous and allogeneic bone grafts. The drawback of the first one is the donor site’s limitation and the need for a second operation on the same patient. In the allograft method, the problems are associated with transmitted diseases and high susceptibility to rejection. As an alternative to biological grafts, polymers can be used in bone repair. Some polymers used in the orthopedic field are poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(ether-ether-ketone), and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). UHMWPE has drawn much attention since it combines low friction coefficient and high wear and impact resistance. However, UHMWPE is a bioinert material, which means that it does not interact with the bone tissue. UHMWPE composites and nanocomposites with hydroxyapatite (HA) are widely studied in the literature to mitigate these issues. HA is the main component of the inorganic phase in the natural bone, and the addition of this bioactive filler to the polymeric matrix aims to mimic bone composition. This brief review discusses some polymers used in orthopedic applications, focusing on the UHMWPE/HA composites as a potential bone substitute.
Highlights
Most bone tissue lesions have the potential for adequate spontaneous regeneration, and this is mainly due to the continuous bone remodeling process that occurs throughout human life [1]
The first one is biologically considered the gold standard for bone replacement
Bone cement is formed through a mass polymerization reaction of methyl methacrylate (MMA) via free radicals, where benzoyl peroxide is generally used as an initiator and N,N-dimethyl-4-toluidine as an activator (Figure 2)
Summary
Most bone tissue lesions have the potential for adequate spontaneous regeneration, and this is mainly due to the continuous bone remodeling process that occurs throughout human life [1]. It is possible to biologically reconstitute a long bone deficit without the morbidity of the donor site This type of graft is more susceptible to rejection, and even being submitted to previous treatments can cause disease transmission [7,8,9]. Polymeric materials in bone replacement have the advantage that their physical characteristics can be molded according to their application since their composition can be changed They can be produced in a more porous or smooth form; they are manipulated, allowing better reproduction and lighter ones than metals. Mechanical properties similar to natural bone, high impact, wear resistance, low friction coefficient, and biocompatibility make it a suitable polymer for bone replacement [13,14] For this reason, UHMWPE is widely used to fabricate hip, knee, and shoulder prostheses. We revised the polymers usually used in bone repair, highlighting UHMWPE/HA composites’ properties and their processing strategy
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