The influence of lithium fluoride on in vitro biocompatibility and bioactivity of calcium aluminate–PMMA composite cement

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess the influence of lithium fluoride on in vitro biocompatibility and bioactivity of calcium aluminate (CA)–polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) composite cement exhibiting quick setting time (<15 min), low exothermic temperature (<47 °C), and high compressive strength (>100 MPa). The biocompatibility was measured by examining cytotoxicity tests such as the agar diffusion test with L929 cell line and the hemolysis test with fresh rabbit blood. To estimate the bioactivity of CA–PMMA composite cement, we determined hydroxyapatite (HAp) formation on the surface of composite cement in the simulated body (SBF) solution by using thin-film XRD, XPS, SEM, EPMA and ICP-AES. The results of biocompatibility tests indicated that all experimental compositions of this study had no cytotoxicity and no hemolysis so that there was no cytotoxicity with regard to non-reacted monomers (MMA and TEGDMA) and lithium fluoride. The results of bioactivity tests revealed that CA–PMMA composite cement without lithium fluoride did not form HAp on its surface after 60 days of soaking in the SBF. On the other hand, LiAl2(OH)7·2H2O and HAp were formed on the surface of CA–PMMA composite cement including 1.0% by weight of lithium fluoride after 7 and 15 days of soaking in the SBF, respectively. The 5 μm of LiAl2(OH)7·2H2O and HAp mixed layers were formed on the surface of specimen after 60 days of soaking in the SBF.