Ceramics-Silikáty 54 (4) 386-397 (2010)

PARTICULATE COMPOSITE ON THE BASIS OF HA AND TCP MICROPARTICLES AND NANOPARTICLES AS A POSSIBLE BIOMATERIAL FOR SPINE THERAPY

Š. Rýglová , Z. Sucharda , M. Černý , T. Suchý , M. Šupová , M. Žaloudková

The aim of this experimental work was to propose a technology for preparing a particle-reinforced composite based on thermosetting polydimethylsiloxane resin matrix (PDMS) reinforced with hydroxyapatite (HA) or tricalciumphosphate (TCP) microparticles/nanoparticles for application as an intervertebral filling biomaterial situated inside a load-bearing PEEK cage. In addition, we determined the effect of microparticle and nanoparticle additives (HA, TCP) on the mechanical characteristics of the particulate composite, namely modulus of elasticity in compression (E_c) and compressive strength (σ). In this work, the proposed technology for preparing these particle composites with a thermosetting matrix functioned quite satisfactorily. We can conclude that with rising volume of the particle composite filling up to 25 vol.%, the E_c and σ_cM also rose to twice the values for the pure PDMS matrix. The effect of nanoparticles on the mechanical properties was more pronounced.

Keywords: Particulate composite, Preparation, Hydroxyapatite, Tricalcium phosphate, Polydimethylsiloxane, Compressive strength