Novel Hybrid Composites Based on PVA/SeTiO2 Nanoparticles and Natural Hydroxyapatite for Orthopedic Applications: Correlations between Structural, Morphological and Biocompatibility Properties

Simona Cavalu; Luminita Fritea; Marcel Brocks; Katia Barbaro; Gelu Murvai; Traian Octavian Costea; Iulian Antoniac; Claudio Verona; Martina Romani; Alessandro Latini; Romano Zilli; Julietta V Rau

doi:10.3390/ma13092077

Novel Hybrid Composites Based on PVA/SeTiO₂ Nanoparticles and Natural Hydroxyapatite for Orthopedic Applications: Correlations between Structural, Morphological and Biocompatibility Properties

Materials (Basel). 2020 May 1;13(9):2077. doi: 10.3390/ma13092077.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, P-ta 1 Decembrie 10, 410081 Oradea, Romania.
² Biomedical Sciences Doctoral School, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, P-ta 1 Decembrie 10, 410081 Oradea, Romania.
³ Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy.
⁴ Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania.
⁵ Department Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 313, sector 6, 060032 Bucharest, Romania.
⁶ Department of Industrial Engineering, University "Tor Vergata" Rome, via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
⁷ INFN National Laboratory of Frascati, via Enrico Fermi 40, 00044 Frascati, Italy.
⁸ Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
⁹ Istituto di Struttura della Materia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ISM-CNR), Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy.

Abstract

The properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based composites recommend this material as a good candidate for the replacement of damaged cartilage, subchondral bone, meniscus, humeral joint and other orthopedic applications. The manufacturing process can be manipulated to generate the desired biomechanical properties. However, the main shortcomings of PVA hydrogels are related to poor strength and bioactivity. To overcome this situation, reinforcing elements are added to the PVA matrix. The aim of our work was to develop and characterize a novel composition based on PVA reinforced with Se-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles and natural hydroxyapatite (HA), for possible orthopedic applications. The PVA/Se-doped TiO₂ composites with and without HA were structurally investigated by FTIR and XRD, in order to confirm the incorporation of the inorganic phase in the polymeric structure, and by SEM and XRF, to evidence the ultrastructural details and dispersion of nanoparticles in the PVA matrix. Both the mechanical and structural properties of the composites demonstrated a synergic reinforcing effect of HA and Se-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles. Moreover, the tailorable properties of the composites were proved by the viability and differentiation potential of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) to osteogenic, chondrogenic and adipogenic lineages. The novel hybrid PVA composites show suitable structural, mechanical and biological features to be considered as a promising biomaterial for articular cartilage and subchondral bone repair.

Keywords: BMMSC differentiation; PVA (poly(vinyl alcohol)); composites; hydroxyapatite; nanoparticles; selenium; titania.