Asif Mulla
Prof. P. S. Ladgaonkar
Traumatic bone injuries and degenerative joint diseases pose significant global health challenges, with over 34
million bone-related injuries reported annually in the United States alone. Current treatment options utilizing
metallic implants present critical limitations including stress shielding, toxic ion release, and the necessity for
revision surgeries. This research addresses these challenges by developing and characterizing three novel
nanocomposite materials for artificial bone pin applications: Gr-HAp-ZrO₂-Fe (Sample 1), HAp-ZrO₂-Fe (Sample
2), and HAp-ZrO₂-PMMA-Fe (Sample 3). The composites were synthesized using a precipitation method followed
by powder metallurgy processing at 400 MPa compaction pressure and sintering at 800°C for 3 hours.
Comprehensive characterization included High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray
Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Finite Element Analysis (FEA),
biocompatibility assessment via MTT assay, and mechanical testing for hardness, compressive strength, tensile
strength, and tribological properties. Results demonstrate that Sample 1 exhibits the most promising
performance with average particle size ranging from 2-100 nm, hardness of 530 Microvickers, compressive
strength of 90 MPa, tensile strength of 80 MPa, and coefficient of friction of 0.084. Biocompatibility testing
revealed >90% cell viability at lower concentrations, indicating non-toxic behavior. FEA analysis showed
directional deformation of 1.1898 mm and maximum equivalent stress of 871 MPa, closely matching natural bone
properties. Sample 1 emerges as the optimal candidate for bone pin implants, offering enhanced biocompatibility,
mechanical strength, and tribological performance compared to conventional materials.