In vitro osteogenic cell proliferation,mineralization,and in vivo osseointegration of injection molded high-density polyethylene-based hybrid composites in rabbit animal model

The present work reports the biocompatibility property of injection molded HDPE-HA-Al₂O₃ hybrid composites. In vitro cytocompatibility results reveal that osteogenic cell viability and bone mineralization are favorably supported in a statistically significant manner on HDPE-20% HA-20% Al₂O₃ composite, in comparison to HDPE-40 wt.% HA or HDPE-40 wt.% Al₂O₃. The difference in cytocompatibility property is explained in terms of difference in substrate wettability/surface energy and importantly, both the cell proliferation at 7 days or bone mineralization at 21 days on HDPE-20% HA-20% Al₂O₃ composite are either comparable or better than sintered HA. The progressive healing of cylindrical femoral bone defects in rabbit animal model was assessed by implantation experiments over 1, 4 and 12 weeks. Based on the histological analysis as well as histomorphometrical evaluation, a better efficacy of HDPE-20% HA-20% Al₂O₃ over high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for bone regeneration and neobone formation at host bone-implant interface was established. Taken together, the present study unequivocally establishes that despite the presence of 20% Al₂O₃, HDPE-based hybrid composites are as biocompatible as HA in vitro or better than HDPE in vivo.