Polymerization kinetics stability, volumetric changes, apatite precipitation, strontium release

Piyaphong Panpisut, Muhammad Adnan Khan, Kirsty Main, Mayda Arshad, Wendy Xia, Haralampos Petridis, Anne Margaret Young

PlosOne

This study developed new spectroscopic methods to determine the effects of material composition on shelf-life and setting rate of dental composites that have been modified to replace polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cements currently used to repair vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis or cancer metastasis. It investigated strength and fatigue under loading of the set materials and novel features including surface apatite precipitation and strontium release added to promote bone repair.

The development of stable composite pastes that can be provided in a double barrelled syringe has enabled production of easier to use bone cements that set more quickly after injection into a fractured vertebra. This reduces the risk of leakage from the required site of application which is a major problem with commercial PMMA cements. The composite cements additionally have significantly lower heat generation which reduces the risk of poor integration with bone. The new materials also have comparable fatigue properties to PMMA but in addition release of components that can promote surrounding bone repair.   

Currently, biological studies are being conducted on the new formulations through a collaboration with Thailand funded through a UCL Eastman-coordinated Royal Society Newton Advanced Fellowship. The aim is to develop a material with multiple unique selling points that would validate the high costs of large scale material manufacture for in vivo studies, clinical trials and CE marking. 

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