Electrically-magnetically bifunctional PMMA composite with improved physicochemical properties and promoting BMSC growth under electrical and magnetic stimulation

Electric and magnetic stimulation play a unique role in promoting bone regeneration. Here, a novel type of electrically-magnetically bifunctional polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) composite that integrates stimulus-responsive, cytocompatiablity and osteostimulation properties were developed by incorporating activated carbon nanotubes (ACNTs) into PMMA matrix. The maximum hyperthermal temperature of polymerization (T-max), physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility of the PMMA composites were evaluated. The results showed that the ACNTs-doped PMMA composite exhibited a dramatic reduced T-max, effectively alleviating the adverse effect of the strongly exothermic polymerization of PMMA, an enhanced compressive strength, a reduced elastic modulus being close to human spongy bone, certain conductivity and magnetic character. The cell culture indicated that the PMMA composite with 6 wt% ACNTs had better cell viability under the 10 mA of electrical stimulation (ES), 60 mT of static magnetic field stimulation (SMF), and these combination. This electrically-magnetically bifunctional PMMA composite with excellent stimulus-responsive, mechanical properties and cytocompatiablity has great practical potential for bone tissue engineering.

Automated summary

In this study, a novel electrically-magnetically bifunctional PMMA composite was developed, which exhibited excellent stimulus-responsive, mechanical properties, and cytocompatibility, showing great potential for bone tissue engineering.