Curing characteristics and mechanical properties of a poly(propylene fumarate) based orthopaedic biomaterial

摘要

Poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) is a linear unsaturated polyester that holds promise for use as an injectable, biodegradable polymer for orthopaedic applications. It can be crosslinked through a free radical reaction with the use of a monomer, aninitiator, and an accelerator. In addition, an injectable composite can be formed by incorporation of solid phase components such as NaCl for initial porosity and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) to function as an osteoconductive matrix. In this study we asked the following questions: (1) what is the effect of crosslinking components on the heat released upon crosslinking, the peak crosslinking temperature, and the time frame of composite curing, and (2) what is the effect of crosslinking components on the initial mechanical properties of composite materials.