%0 Journal Article
%T A Novel Glass Polyalkenoate Cement for Fixation and Stabilisation of the Ribcage, Post Sternotomy Surgery: An ex-Vivo Study
%A Adel M.F. Alhalawani
%A Declan J. Curran
%A Belinda Pingguan-Murphy
%A Daniel Boyd
%A Mark R. Towler
%J Journal of Functional Biomaterials
%D 2013
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/jfb4040329
%X This study investigates the use of gallium (Ga) based glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs) as a possible alternative adhesive in sternal fixation, post sternotomy surgery. The glass series consists of a Control (CaO¨CZnO¨CSiO2), and LGa-1 and LGa-2 which contain Ga at the expense of zinc (Zn) in 0.08 mol% increments. The additions of Ga resulted in increased working time (75 s to 137 s) and setting time (113 to 254 s). Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis indicated that this was a direct result of increased unreacted poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and the reduction of crosslink formation during cement maturation. LGa samples (0.16 wt % Ga) resulted in an altered ion release profile, particularly for 30 days analysis, with maximum Ca 2+, Zn 2+, Si 4+ and Ga 3+ ions released into the distilled water. The additions of Ga resulted in increased roughness and decreased contact angles during cement maturation. The presence of Ga has a positive effect on the compressive strength of the samples with strengths increasing over 10 MPa at 7 days analysis compared to the 1 day results. The additions of Ga had relatively no effect on the flexural strength. Tensile testing of bovine sterna proved that the LGa samples (0.16 wt % Ga) are comparable to the Control samples.
%K sternal fixation
%K gallium
%K glass polyalkenoate cement
%K sternotomy
%K compressive strength
%K biaxial flexural strength
%K roughness
%K contact angle
%K bovine sterna
%U http://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/4/4/329