Development of Poly(acrylamide)-Hydroxyapatite Composites as Bone Substitutes: Study of Mechanical and Blood Compatible Behavior

The Hydroxyapatite (HAp) serves as potential biomaterial in various biomedical applications. This study is a continuing attempt to design the biomimetic bone-like composite materials. The authors have tried to develop HAp/Polyacrylamide (PAm) composites with different weight ratios through a suspension polymerization method. The prepared composite materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy techniques, and compressive strength tests. The composites were also studied for water sorption capacity and the water sorption data were used to evaluate network parameters revealing the internal chemical architecture of the composite. In vitro tests were carried out to study water uptake and dissolution profiles of HAp/PAm composites. Furthermore, in vitro blood compatibility of the composites was also judged using protein adsorption, percentage haemolysis, blood clot formation, and platelet adhesion tests. The results obtained fairly support the objectives of the study to meet physiochemical and biological concerns for a bone-like material. POLYM. COMPOS., 30:1532-1543,2009. (C) 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers