Poly(propylene fumarate)/magnesium calcium phosphate injectable bone composite: Effect of filler size and its weight fraction on mechanical properties

• Published in: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine Vol. 233; no. 11; p. 1165
• Main Authors: Karfarma, Masoud, Esnaashary, Mohammad Hossein, Rezaie, Hamid Reza, Javadpour, Jafar, Naimi-Jamal, Mohammad Reza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.11.2019
• Subjects: Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Bone and Bones - cytology; Bone and Bones - drug effects; Compressive Strength; Fumarates - chemistry; Injections; Materials Testing; Mechanical Phenomena; Phosphates - chemistry; Polypropylenes - chemistry; Structure-Activity Relationship; Young’s modulus; compressive strength; micro-composite; toughening mechanism; magnesium calcium phosphate; poly(propylene fumarate); Nano-composite
• ISSN: 2041-3033
• DOI: 10.1177/0954411919877277

This study aimed to produce a composite of poly(propylene fumarate)/magnesium calcium phosphate as a substitutional implant in the treatment of trabecular bone defects. So, the effect of magnesium calcium phosphate particle size, magnesium calcium phosphate:poly(propylene fumarate) weight ratio on compressive strength, Young's modulus, and toughness was assessed by considering effective fracture mechanisms. Micro-sized (∼30 µm) and nano-sized (∼50 nm) magnesium calcium phosphate particles were synthesized via emulsion precipitation and planetary milling methods, respectively, and added to poly(propylene fumarate) up to 20 wt.%. Compressive strength, Young's modulus, and toughness of the composites were measured by compressive test, and effective fracture mechanisms were evaluated by imaging fracture surface. In both micro- and nano-composites, the highest compressive strength was obtained by adding 10 wt.% magnesium calcium phosphate particles, and the enhancement in nano-composite was superior to micro-one. The micrographs of fracture surface revealed different mechanisms such as crack pinning, void plastic growth, and particle cleavage. According to the results, the produced composite can be considered as a candidate for substituting hard tissue.