In Vitro and in Vivo Characterization of a Foam-Like Polyurethane Bone Adhesive for Promoting Bone Tissue Growth

Biocompatible bone adhesive is a kind of promising biomaterial in orthopedic and trauma surgery. However, despite the urgent need, there is no appropriate system that can meet all the requirements for bone adhesive. In this study, a porous polyurethane adhesive (PUA) was fabricated, and the effects of water, polyisocyanate, and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of PUAs were investigated. By varying the water content, PUAs with different surface morphologies and porosities were prepared. The adhesion strength and mechanical property of the adhesives could be enhanced by the addition of polyisocyanate and beta-TCP. The adhesion strength of the PUA to bone was 2 times higher than that of clinical poly(methyl methacrylate) bone cement. The in vitro cell culture and attachment assays indicated good biocompatibility of the PUAs. In vivo analysis in a rabbit model demonstrated that the porous structure of the PUA could facilitate the growth of cells and bone tissues.