Nanocomposites Strengthen Bone Implants

The product is biocompatible and has desirable mechanical and physical properties.

Many studies have so far been carried out on increasing the fracture strength of hydroxyapatite bioceramic due to its weak mechanical properties. Among the appropriate solutions, mention can be made of strengthening the structure of hydroxyapatite by adding ceramic nanometric strengtheners with high toughness and abrasive resistance such as alumina.

The study tries to produce a product that is similar to and compatible with the natural and inorganic structure of bone by producing nanometric hydroxyapatite and by strengthening it with alumina nanoparticles. It also aims to optimize the mechanical properties of the product in a way that it bears mechanical load such as bone tissue.

The produced hydroxyapatite/alumina nanocomposite has an average size of 25-90 nm. Results of the research showed that the product has appropriate physical and chemical properties to be used beside the bone tissue.

Reduction in cost, simplicity and fast production of the nanocomposites are among the advantages of the proposed method.

According to the report, addition of alumina nanoparticles increases the mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite bioceramic. In addition, the produced hydroxyapatite/alumina nanocomposite has homogenous structure, which has good effect on the behavior of cells and their connections due to increasing the ratio of surface to volume.

source: 
Nanotechnology Now