Optimization of the formulation of an original hydrogel-based bone cement using a mixture design

Highly swelling polymers, i.e. superabsorbent hydrogels, are hydrophilic, three dimensional networks that can easily absorb a significant amount water, fluid or drug. They are widely used in various applications such as foods, cosmetics, and medical devices. Bone cements are used in orthopaedics as a filling biomaterial or as a grout enhancing the embedding of a prosthesis into bone and fixation is achieved by mechanical interlock with metal or bone surfaces. Recently, hydrophilic bone cements have attracted the attention for bone tissue-engineering applications. Here a bone cement containing an acrylic hydrogel (HEMA) as a liquid phase and a blend of corn starch, cellulose acetate and bioceramic filler as a solid phase is investigated by means of a mixture design which is a special topic within statistical Design of Experiments (DoE). Output variables of interest, complex shear modulus, compressive modulus and swelling rate related to rheological, mechanical and swelling properties respectively, are measured for each cement formulation. Applying the mixture design strategy enables to assess the impact of the three powder components on each variable of interest and to determine the optimal formulation in order to achieve the required properties of this HEMA-based bone cement, especially the rheology adapted to the desired clinical application, but also appropriate mechanical and swelling properties.