Polymethylmethacrylate-Hydroxyapatite (PMMA-HA) Increased Osteogenesis via a Stimulation of BMP-2 and FGF-2 Expression in Experimental Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been used for a long time as an implant material in orthopaedic surgery. PMMA lacks the bioactivity necessary for effective osseointegration. Unlike PMMA, hydroxyapatite (HA) offers better osteoconductive, bioactive, and biocompatible properties. HA can be derived from limestone (CaCO3) through processing at Balai Besar Keramik (BBK) or from bovine bone following the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). This study aimed to evaluate the osteogenic potential of PMMA-HA implants by analyzing bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) expression in a rat bone model. The study consisted of six groups: a control group for 7 days, a control group for 14 days, PMMA-HA (BBK) group for 7 days, PMMA-HA (BBK) group for 14 days, PMMA-HA (GMP) group for 7 days, and PMMA-HA (GMP) group for 14 days were implanted into the femurs of the rats at a ratio of 83.8:16.2. Immunohistochemical assays were conducted on days 7 and 14 to assesses FGF-2 and BMP-2expression levels. The expression of FGF-2 and BMP-2 was elevated at 7 and 14 days after implanting PMMA-HA (BBK) and PMMA-HA (GMP) into the femur of Wistar Rats. The application of PMMA-HA (BBK) and PMMA-HA (GMP) into the femur of Wistar Rat resulted in an upregulation of FGF-2 and BMP-2 expression, suggesting that this biomaterial has the potential to enhance bone regeneration by promoting osteogenesis.