Dynamic-mechanical properties of a novel composite intervertebral disc prosthesis

Over the past years, a tremendous effort has been made to develop an intervertebral disc (IVD) prosthesis with suitable biological, mechanical and transport properties. However, it has been frequently reported that current prostheses undergo failure mainly due to the mismatch between the mechanical properties of the conventional device and the spine segment to be replaced. The aim of the present work was to develop a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PHEMA/PMMA) (80/20 w/w) semi-interpenetrating polymer network (s-IPN) composite hydrogel reinforced with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibres, and to investigate the static and dynamic mechanical properties. Filament winding and moulding technologies were employed to obtain the composite IVD prostheses with the unique complex structure that is peculiar to the natural IVD. The compressive properties analysis showed the typical J-shaped stress-strain curve which is displayed by natural IVDs. Compressive modulus varied from 84 to 120 MPa, as a function of the strain rate, and stress was higher than 10 MPa. These values are in the range of those of the natural lumbar IVDs. No failure of the prostheses has occurred during fatigue test performed for ten million cycles in physiological solution. Dynamic mechanical tests have confirmed the composite IVD prostheses exhibited appropriate viscoelastic properties.