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Method for the physical analysis of drug-bone cement composite.
John A Handal1, Richard F Frisch, William L Weaver
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA. handalj@einstein.edu
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|June 5, 2007
Summary
Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement stabilizes fractures from skeletal metastases. New analysis methods confirm PMMA/methotrexate composites maintain mechanical strength while controlling drug release for adjuvant therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Skeletal metastases can lead to fractures, requiring stabilization with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement.
- Adjuvant therapies using PMMA composites with drugs necessitate understanding drug diffusion and mechanical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a method for analyzing drug diffusion rates and mechanical properties of drug-cement composites.
- To evaluate PMMA/methotrexate as a model system for drug delivery in bone cement.
Main Methods:
- Developed a novel analysis method for drug diffusion and mechanical properties of drug-cement composites.
- Utilized PMMA/methotrexate as a model system.
- Measured compression modulus pre- and post-drug elution.
- Quantified drug diffusion rates over time.
Main Results:
- The addition of methotrexate (1.8 g per 40 g PMMA) did not alter the compression modulus of the cement.
- PMMA/methotrexate composites exhibited an initial diffusion rate of 50 ng/(mm2)/hour, decreasing to 10 ng/(mm2)/hour by 36 hours.
- Diffusion modeling predicted 10% drug release within 80 hours and 25% within 133 days.
Conclusions:
- The developed method allows for the assessment of mechanical properties and drug diffusion from PMMA composites.
- PMMA/methotrexate composites demonstrate controlled drug release kinetics without compromising mechanical integrity.
- This approach is valuable for optimizing drug-eluting bone cements for skeletal metastasis treatment.
