Incorporation of Active Agent into Biodegradable Cement

The utility of bone cements has been recognized since 1951, when Charney first anchored an endoprosthesis with a self-curing polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement (1). Acrylic bone cements currently available in the United States include Palacos RTM (Kulzer, FRG), Zimmer Bone CementTM and Zimmer Low Viscosity CementTM (Zimmer), CMW Type ITM (CMW, Blackpool, UK), and Surgical Simplex PTM (Howmedica). As an example of cement composition, the Surgical Simplex P is formulated to contain a mixture of PMMA and a copolymer of methylmethacrylate (MMA) and styrene. MMA monomer is used in the curing process, with benzoyl peroxide (BP) as initiator, N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine(DMPT) as an accelerator to enable low temperature cure, and hydroquinone to inhibit premature polymerization.