Effect of crosslinking agents on poly(ethylmethacrylate) bone cements

Asceptic loosening of cemented joint prostheses in many cases is related to the mechanical failure of the acrylic bone cement. Poly(methylmethacrylate) bone cements are widely used in orthopaedic surgery although there are well-known disadvantages. A lower modulus bone cement based on poly(ethylmethacrylate)-n-butylmethacrylate with a lower polymerization exotherm, and a low monomer extractibility, is a promising alternative. The effect of incorporating crosslinking agents in order to improve the mechanical performance of the PEMA bone cement is reported. Three different bifunctional dimethacrylate crosslinking agents with different chain lengths and degrees of flexibility were incorporated in the monomer phase, and cements formulated. The setting time was found to decrease in the presence of the cross-linking agents and the polymerization exotherm decreased in the presence of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate and polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, n=400. Incorporation of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate showed an increase in the tensile strength and modulus with a decrease in the strain at maximum stress. However, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, n=400, did not improve the mechanical properties appreciably which may be attributed to the low crosslinking density and higher flexibility of the spacer group in the crosslinking agent.