Synergistic effect of HA and BMP-2 mimicking peptide on the bioactivity of HA/PMMA bone cement

HA and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) possess superior osteoinductive and osteoconductive activities in the repair of bone defects. In this study, a BMP-2 mimicking oligopeptide (serine–serine–valine–proline–threonine, SSVPT) was introduced to the surface of nano-sized HA as the reinforcement phase of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) cement, and the synergistic action of HA and oligopeptide on the bioactivity of HA/PMMA bone cement was investigated. Incorporated with 3-trimethoxysilyl propyl methacrylate (MPS)-modified HA, the compressive strength, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of HA/PMMA complied with the international standardization organization 5833 standard. Adherence measurement demonstrated that the introduction of HA and SSVPT could promote the adhesion and proliferation of human fetal osteoblast (hFOB) on the surface of HA/PMMA cement. The increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity indicated that HA/PMMA could promote osteogenic differentiation of hFOB. All of the results illuminated that the HA/PMMA cement could be used as a bioactive material for regeneration and reconstruction of load-bearing bone.