Abstract:
Firstly, n-HA/PEEK/CS (nano-hydroxyapatite/polyether ether ketone/chitosan) composite materials were prepared using nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA), polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and chitosan (CS) as raw materials. Then the drug-delivering bone-repair materials were synthesized via forming holes using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and sodium chloride (NaCl) as the porogen and loading the antibiotic erythromycin (EM) into the n-HA/PEEK/CS composite material. By adjusting the dosage of PVP, the composite materials with different porosities were obtained. The morphology and structure of the as-prepared composite materials were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The mechanical properties of the composite materials were tested by mechanical measurements, with the compressive strength and the brittle broken degrees of the composite materials being measured under specified test conditions respectively, the drug release performance of the composite materials being investigated by stirring basket method, and the dissolution rate of erythromycin in composite materials being determined by Ultraviolet Visible Spectrophotometer (UV-Vis). Results showed that with the augment of the PVP content, the porosity of the composite materials increased. The n-HA/PEEK/CS/EM composite material was obtained with a porosity of 51.6% and a compressive strength of 6.98 MPa when PVP and NaCl were used in a mass ratio of 1:6, which was approaching cancellous bone. When the mass fraction of the CS within the composite material was increased from 0 to 30%, the maximum drug release concentration increased from 39.8
μg/mL to 52.0
μg/mL. The release rate of the process could be adjusted by turning the pore size of composite materials, and the maximum drug release concentration could be controlled by altering the content of chitosan in composite materials. There was no new chemical bond generation after loading the antibiotic erythromycin (EM). The composite materials formed three-dimensional porous structures and the pore diameter was between 5
μm and 50
μm, which met the requirement of artificial bone aperture, and would benefit the transportation of nutrients and the growth of cells and tissues.