Tensile and biocompatibility properties of synthesized nano-hydroxyapatite reinforced ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene nanocomposite

Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene-based nanocomposites reinforced with nano-sized hydroxyapatite particles were fabricated using internal mixer and compression molding with different weight percent of the nano-hydroxyapatite. In this study, first, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel. Then, the mechanical and biological properties of nanocomposites were studied by tensile test and proliferation and cell adhesion assays using MG-63 osteoblast cells, respectively. Results of the tensile test showed that incorporation of 50 wt% nano-hydroxyapatite led to a 345.64% and 57.58% increase in Young's modulus and yield strength (compared to the pure ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene), respectively. The effect of the nano-hydroxyapatite powders on the MG-63 osteoblast cells behavior was compared to those of a composite (positive control) and a negative control samples. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs revealed that cell-biomaterial interaction was carried out on the surface of the nanocomposites with normal phenotypic shape. Results of MTT assay exhibited that all samples are biocompatible.