UV-activated bioadhesive composite for bone repair

• Main Author: Toni, Felicia
• Other Authors: Terry W.J. Steele
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2020
• Subjects: Engineering::Materials
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/141501
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Current surgical procedures to stabilize fractured bones involve the use of fixation devices like screws and plates, and often supplemented with the administration of bone cement to improve anchorage. However, issues leading to the need of an undesirable second surgery have been reported. This project investigates the structure-activity relationships of UV-activated bioadhesive and Bioglass composite and assesses its suitability for orthopaedic applications. UV activated bioadhesive allows better control over crosslinking process, enabling the tuning of mechanical properties. Bioglass promotes bone-bonding and acts as the reinforcing phase. Rheological measurements show that shear modulus and shear strength are positively correlated to Bioglass concentration and UV dose. The optimum formulation with 20 wt% Bioglass is shown to have a storage modulus of 142 kPa and a shear strength of 57.6 kPa. In an experiment where photocuring is done ex-vivo, a lap shear strength of 42.7 kPa is obtained. Although the mechanical properties of the current formulation can not match the modulus and strength of a bone, and the current adhesion strength can not match that of bone cement’s, structure-activity relationships show that there is a potential for improvement upon further research.