Poster #080
Engineering HA-MgO Nanocomposites for Post-Osteosarcoma Bone Regeneration
Mentors: Allison Sander, MS and Karla Rodriguez Pequeno, PhD Candidate; Huinan Liu, PhD
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most prevalent primary malignant bone tumor. Although OS is highly treatable with a five-year survival rate of ~60%, it can lead to significant loss in bone density. Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles closely emulate natural bone apatite and have osteoconductive properties, promoting bone regeneration. Previous studies have demonstrated that HA nanoparticles can also limit tumorigenicity by downregulating oncogenic signaling pathways. Similarly, magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles can facilitate bone formation by promoting osteoblast differentiation. Past studies have additionally shown that MgO nanoparticles can reduce cancer cell proliferation by generating reactive oxygen species and triggering apoptosis. In this study, we synthesized HA nanoparticles through wet chemical precipitation. We used mechanical dispersion and solvent casting to synthesize HA-MgO nanocomposites, before conducting observation and analysis with SEM and EDX. Our results show bone-like mineral composition and surface properties, substantiating HA-MgO nanocomposites as a treatment for post-osteosarcoma bone regeneration.