Genotoxicity of acrylic bone cements

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Toxicology
• Genetics

Background:

• Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is a widely used bone cement.
• Assessing the genotoxicity of bone cement formulations is crucial for patient safety.
• A novel bone cement formulation (MMA/DMA/IBMA) was developed to potentially improve safety profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the genotoxicity of conventional PMMA bone cement and a new MMA/DMA/IBMA formulation.
• To determine if the new bone cement formulation presents an increased genotoxic risk.

Main Methods:

• Genotoxicity was assessed using the micronucleus test and Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assays (Ames test).
• Cement extracts were prepared using water and water/ethanol solutions under standard incubation conditions (37°C, 72 hr).
• Concentrations of key components, including methylmethacrylate (MMA) and accelerators, were quantified in the extracts.

Main Results:

• The new MMA/DMA/IBMA formulation significantly reduced MMA concentrations (13-19 times lower) and accelerator concentrations (4-5 times lower) in extracts compared to conventional PMMA.
• New chemical constituents in the formulation were detected at negligible concentrations.
• Both conventional PMMA and the new MMA/DMA/IBMA formulation demonstrated non-mutagenic results in the micronucleus test.
• The Ames test showed scattered increased revertant ratios across all tested cement brands, with no significant differences observed between them.

Conclusions:

• The new bone cement formulation (MMA/DMA/IBMA) exhibits a favorable toxicological profile with substantially reduced monomer and accelerator levels.
• The tested bone cement formulations, including the new one, are considered non-genotoxic.
• The novel MMA/DMA/IBMA bone cement formulation does not introduce an increased risk of genotoxicity.