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Fabrication of a biodegradable calcium polyphosphate/polyvinyl‐urethane carbonate composite for high load bearing osteosynthesis applications
Author(s) -
Ramsay Scott D.,
Pilliar Robert M.,
Santerre J. Paul
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.31639
Subject(s) - materials science , polyphosphate , composite number , composite material , polymer , osteosynthesis , swelling , calcium carbonate , load bearing , polyvinyl acetate , phosphate , chemistry , surgery , organic chemistry , medicine
The formation of biodegradable implants for use in osteosynthesis has been a major goal of biomaterials research for the past 2–3 decades. Self‐reinforced polylactide systems represent the most significant success of this research to date, however, with elastic constants up to 12–15 GPa at best, they fail to provide the initial stiffness required of devices for stabilizing fractures of major load‐bearing bones. Our research has investigated the use of calcium polyphosphate (CPP), an inorganic polymer in combination with polyvinyl‐urethane carbonate (PVUC) organic polymers for such applications. Initial studies indicated that composite samples formed as interpenetrating phase composites (IPC) exhibited suitable as‐made strength and stiffness, however, they displayed a rapid loss of properties when exposed to in vitro aging. An investigation to determine the mechanism of this accelerated in vitro degradation for the IPCs as well as to identify possible design changes to overcome this drawback was undertaken using a model IPC system. It was found that strong interfacial strength and minimal swelling of the PVUC are very important for obtaining and maintaining appropriate mechanical properties in vitro. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2010.