Chemically Pretreated Densification of Juniper Wood for Potential Use in Osteosynthesis Bone Implants
Journal of Functional Biomaterials 2024
Laura Andze, Vadims Nefjodovs, Martins Andzs, Marite Skute, Juris Zoldners, Martins Kapickis, Arita Dubņika, Jānis Ločs, Jānis Vētra

The aim of the study was to perform treatment of juniper wood to obtain wood material with a density and mechanical properties comparable to bone, thus producing a potential material for use in osteosynthesis bone implants. In the first step, partial delignification of wood sample was obtained by Kraft cooking. The second step was extraction with ethanol, ethanol–water mixture, saline, and water to prevent the release of soluble compounds and increase biocompatibility. In the last step, the thermal densification at 100 °C for 24 h was implemented. The results obtained in the dry state are equivalent to the properties of bone. The swelling of chemically pre-treated densified wood was reduced compared to chemically untreated densified wood. Samples showed no cytotoxicity by in vitro cell assays. The results of the study showed that it is possible to obtain noncytotoxic wood samples with mechanical properties equivalent to bones by partial delignification, extraction, and densification. However, further research is needed to ensure the material’s shape stability, water resistance, and reduced swelling.


Keywords
juniper wood; chemical pretreatment; kraft cooking; partial delignification; compressed solid wood; wood densification; wood bone implants; in vitro
DOI
10.3390/jfb15100287
Hyperlink
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/15/10/287

Andze, L., Nefjodovs, V., Andzs, M., Skute, M., Zoldners, J., Kapickis, M., Dubņika, A., Ločs, J., Vētra, J. Chemically Pretreated Densification of Juniper Wood for Potential Use in Osteosynthesis Bone Implants. Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 2024, Vol. 15, No. 10, Article number 287. e-ISSN 2079-4983. Pieejams: doi:10.3390/jfb15100287

Publication language
English (en)
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