| dc.description.abstract | Age-related osteoporosis often leads to bone fracture. Currently, in clinical practice, bone cement is commonly used to fix screw implants and prevent loosening. However, bone cement has issues, such as brittleness, high-temperature polymerization, stress shielding, and poor osteointegration, making it unsuitable for patients with osteoporosis. In this study, we developed a gel graft to replace traditional bone cement as an option for fixing implants in patients with osteoporosis. The gel material was composed of sodium polyacrylate, gelatin, β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), and normal saline, mixed using a double-barreled syringe. The research methods include discussing the β-TCP content of the biomimetic gel, gel biocompatibility testing, analysis of the physical and chemical properties of the gel, and functional testing. Functional testing includes evaluation of mechanical properties, bioengineering application characteristics, efficacy in animal studies, and shelf life. The biomimetic gel group was defined as the control group (gel) and experimental group (Gel-6B). The results showed that the biomimetic gel was biocompatible. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the biomimetic gel had a porous structure and that Gel-6B contained β-TCP. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to identify the main components of the Gel and Gel-6B. The gel had a polymerization temperature below 30°C, and immersion of the gel in 1x PBS for 28 days did not result in significant acid-base leaching. Rheometer tests confirmed the gelation time after extrusion for Gel and Gel-6B, and disintegration tests showed gel structural breakdown within 2 h for Gel, but not for Gel-6B. In functional testing, the biomimetic gel was able to withstand 50% strain and recover close to its original shape. The results of the universal testing machine indicated that the mechanical strength of the biomimetic gel was similar to that of the osteoporotic bone. In vitro testing demonstrated osteoconduction and osteointegration of the gel. In animal experiments, computed tomography scans and tissue section observations revealed that Gel-6B facilitates the healing of bone defects. Therefore, this study suggests that Gel-6B has the potential to fix implants in osteoporosis patients. | en_US |