A strategy for enhancing bioactivity and osseointegration with antibacterial effect by incorporating magnesium in polylactic acid based biodegradable orthopedic implant

Hyun Lee, Da Yong Shin, Seo Jun Bang, Ginam Han, Yuhyun Na, Hyeong Seok Kang, Se Kwon Oh, Chang Bun Yoon, Sanjairaj Vijayavenkataraman, Juha Song, Hyoun Ee Kim, Hyun Do Jung, Min Ho Kang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Biodegradable orthopedic implants are essential for restoring the physiological structure and function of bone tissue while ensuring complete degradation after recovery. Polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable polymer, is considered a promising material due to its considerable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, further improvements are necessary to enhance the mechanical strength and bioactivity of PLA for reliable load-bearing orthopedic applications. In this study, a multifunctional PLA-based composite was fabricated by incorporating tricalcium phosphate (TCP) microspheres and magnesium (Mg) particles homogenously at a volume fraction of 40 %. This approach aims to enhance mechanical strength, accelerate pore generation, and improve biological and antibacterial performance. Mg content was incorporated into the composite at varying values of 1, 3, and 5 vol% (referred to as PLA/TCP-1 Mg, PLA/TCP-3 Mg, and PLA/TCP-5 Mg, respectively). The compressive strength and stiffness were significantly enhanced in all composites, reaching 87.7, 85.9, and 84.1 MPa, and 2.7, 3.0, and 3.1 GPa, respectively. The degradation test indicated faster elimination of the reinforcers as the Mg content increased, resulting in accelerated pore generation to induce enhanced osseointegration. Because PLA/TCP-3 Mg and PLA/TCP-5 Mg exhibited cracks in the PLA matrix due to rapid corrosion of Mg forming corrosion byproducts, to optimize the Mg particle content, PLA/TCP-1 Mg was selected for further evaluation. As determined by in vitro biological and antibacterial testing, PLA/TCP-1 Mg showed enhanced bioactivity with pre-osteoblast cells and exhibited antibacterial properties by suppressing bacterial colonization. Overall, the multifunctional PLA/TCP-Mg composite showed improved mechanobiological performance, making it a promising material for biodegradable orthopedic implants.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number127797
JournalInternational Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Volume254
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2024

Keywords

  • Antibacterial effect
  • Biodegradable composite
  • Magnesium (Mg)
  • Orthopedic implant
  • Polylactic acid (PLA)
  • Pore generation
  • Tricalcium phosphate (TCP)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

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