Modificação do cimento ortopédico com nanopartículas de prata

Abstract

Bone or acrylic cement, also known as poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), is a biomaterial used mainly in the surgeries of prostheses fixation and also to fill and reconstruct bone segments. The bone cement is placed in the open spaces between the implant and endosteal bone surface and hardens in a short time, assuring the prosthesisto be attached to both bone and implant. However, infections are very often reported during the application of bone cements. Therefore, in this study, silver nanoparticles were incorporated into bone cements to provide bactericidal action and hence the reduction of infections in the knee and hip total arthroplasties. The goal of this study was to assess possible changes in the properties of bone cement due to the presence of silver nanoparticles both in powder form and colloidal solution. The Orthopedic Biomechanics bone cement, an acrylic self curing compound, was used. This compound is obtained by mixing poly(methyl methacrylate), barium sulfate and benzoyl peroxide as polymerization initiator with a second liquid component consisting of methylmethacrylate monomer and N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine as activator. The silver nanoparticles were synthesized by reduction of silver ions from silver nitrate with sodium borohydride and also silver nanoparticles powder purchased commercially. The results of this work suggested that the developed nanocomposite is a promising material for biomedical applications since no major changes in mechanical properties as well asbiocompatibility were observed when silver nanoparticles were added to commercial bone cements.