Facile Bottom-up Approach to Synthesise Hydroxyapatite - PolymethylMethacrylate Nanocomposites for Possible Applications in Bone Grafting
T. P. Gamagedara*, R. M. G. Rajapakse
Current applications of nanocomposites in medicine and surgery can be encouraged by using clinically well-known constituents in the preparation of nanocomposites. In addition, industrial production of medical devices made of nanocomposites can be increased by using simple one-pot methods. The process used in the study involves a bottom-up approach which starts with the synthesis of hydroxyapatite(HA) nanoparticles and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) simultaneously using basic precursors imitating strategies inside biological systems where it allows self-organizing into a higher order of microscale structure. In the present study, HA-PMMA nanocomposite was synthesized by a novel, facile bottom-up approach and its structural, morphological, mechanical and thermal properties were evaluated.X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR)spectroscopy,scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used for the characterization. Homogeneous dispersion of needle shape,pure HA nanoparticles (~29% of HA) in the PMMA matrix can be obtained by a novel, one spot synthesis using Ca(OH)2, NH4H2PO4 precursors,MMA monomers and K2S2O8 initiator. The thermally and mechanically improved nanocomposite can be used for the possible applications inbone grafting with enough clinical and experimental data supporting the performance of HA nanoparticles and PMMA