Preparation and characterization of antibacterial bone cements impregnated with silver nanoparticles

Bone cement is widely used in surgical treatments for fixation of orthopedic implants. The infections, which are developed by these procedures are a major health risk for patients and an additionally cost for the health service providers. The problem was also aggravated because of losing efficacy of antibiotics. Therefore, novel approaches needed for efficient protection against to microorganisms. In the presented study, traditional bone cements were impregnated with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) embedded polystyrene (PS)-soybean oil copolymers based nanoparticles to eliminate the infection risks occurred in bone applications and thus, novel bone cements consist of a high antimicrobial activity was prepared. Firstly, soybean oil and silver nitrate were autoxidized, the soybean oil encapsulated AgNPs (Agsbox) was obtained and polymerization of styrene was carried out by oxidized soybean oil polymer with AgNPS, and NPS with different size distributions from PS-Agsbox graft copolymer was obtained. The size and surface charges of the synthesized NPs were tested using Zeta Sizer. SEM and AFM were used for the surface properties. In this study, PMMA and calcium phosphate based bone cements (β-TCP) were used and the prepared NPs were mixed with these bone cements. The mechanical properties, average pore size and porosity of the synthesized novel bone cements were investigated. The Ag+ release from PS-Agsbox based NPs and in-vitro antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, S. aureus were evaluated. In order to evaluate in-vitro biocompatibility of bone cements, PS-Agsbox based NPs were treated with mouse osteoblastic cell line (MC-3T3).