Novel PMMA bone cement nanocomposites containing magnesium phosphate nanosheets and hydroxyapatite nanofibers

Lack of bioactivity and monomer toxicity are limiting factors of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement in orthopedic applications. Herein, we address these shortcomings by proposing two-dimensional magnesium phosphate (MgP) nanosheets and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanofibers as novel fillers in PMMA bone cement nanocomposites. Two-dimensional MgP nanosheets and one-dimensional HA nanofibers were synthesized by tuning the crystallization of the sodium-magnesium-phosphate ternary system and hydrothermal homogeneous precipitation, respectively. We show that MgP nanosheets exhibit antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli (E. coli). In addition, HA nanofibers with high level of bioactivity are the proper choice to induce cell viability in the nanocomposite. Results indicate that the combination of both fillers can act as deformation locks enhancing the compressive strength of the nanocomposites. The synthesized nanocomposite possesses excellent bioactivity, mechanical properties, and cytocompatibility potentially opening new paradigm in the design of next generation bone cement composites. •Development of PMMA composites with superior cytocompatibility, mechanical and antibacterial properties is a challenge.•2D MgP nanosheets and 1D HA nanofibers as nanofillers could be incorporated in the PMMA bone cement matrix.•PMMA-MgP-HA composites possess antibacterial attributes with enhanced cytocompatibility and mechanical properties.•Our findings indicate that the proposed composite can result in a paradigm shift in the design of existing bone cements.