poly (methyl methacrylate)/biphasic calcium phosphate/nano graphenebone cement for orthopedic application

Background: the aim of this study was to make a bioactive bone cement based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (pmma) with suitable mechanical properties. methods: pmma has beenmodified by fabricating a composite consisting of biphasic calcium phosphate (bcp) 68 wt%,pmma 31 wt% and graphene (gr) 1 wt% (pmma/bcp/gr), 32 wt% of pmma, and 68 wt% ofbcp (pmma/bcp) and pure pmma by milling, mixing with monomer liquid, and casting. themodified cements were evaluated regarding mechanical properties, bioactivity, degradation rate, andbiocompatibility. results: the scanning electron microscopy (sem) images of hydroxyapatite (ha)formed on samples surface after 28 days of immersion in simulated body fluid (sbf) demonstratedthat bioactivity was obtained due to the addition of bcp, and the degradation rate of the cementwas enhanced as well. investigations of mechanical properties revealed that bcp increased theelastic modulus of pmma more than 1.5 times, but predictably decreased elongation. the additionof 1 wt% gr increased elongation and yield strength from 16.39% ± 1.02% and 61.67 ± 1.52 mpafor pmma/bcp to 35.18% ± 2.42% and 78.40 ± 2.06 mpa for pmma/bcp/gr, respectively.mg63 cells survival and proliferation improved from 127.55% ± 7.03% for pmma to 201.41% ±10.7% for pmma/bcp/gr on day 4 of culture. conclusion: according to the obtained results ofmechanical and biological tests, it seems that new pmma/bcp/gr bone cement has a potentialityfor usage in orthopedic applications.