Preparation, mechanical properties, and in vitro biocompatibility of novel nanocomposites based on polyhexamethylene carbonate fumarate and nanohydroxyapatite

In the current study a new biodegradable nanocomposite based on poly hexamethylene carbonate fumarate (PHMCF) and nano-sized hydroxyapatite (nano-HA) has been developed. A silane coupling agent gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxy silane, was used to achieve a good interfacial adhesion between nano-HA and PHMCF matrix. PHMCF with different nano-HA contents were characterized using dynamical mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and hardness test. The effect of frequency on storage modulus, glass transition temperature (T-g) and the damping were investigated. In vitro cytotoxicity and proliferation were performed using G292 cell lines by MTT assay. The addition of nano-HA resulted in an increment on the storage modulus and decrement on the damping. Along with improvement in mechanical properties of composites, the addition of nano-HA resulted in enhanced cell proliferation. Following these results, the newly developed nano-PHMCF composite scaffold may be considered for bone tissue engineering applications. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.