Development of a phase change microcapsule to reduce the setting temperature of PMMA bone cement

The aim of the current study is to alleviate the adverse effect of the strongly exothermic polymerization of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement in clinical applications. In this study, paraffin/poly(methyl methacrylate-methylene bisacrylamide) (paraffin/P(MMA-MBA)) phase change microcapsules (MPn; n = 1, 2) were developed via the emulsion polymerization method. The reduction of the maximum temperature of polymerization (T_max) and physicochemical properties were evaluated after doping commercial PMMA cement with MPn in specific proportions (10%, 20%, and 30%). The results reveal that the MPn-doped PMMA exhibited an effective reduction in T_max, which can help alleviate the adverse effect of the strong exothermic reactions during PMMA setting. After doping with the MPn, the mechanical properties of the PMMA cement decrease and the values are close to that of body cancellous bone. The T_max of the cement doped with 20 wt% MP1 is 37.6°C, which is close to body temperature. Significantly, the setting and compressive properties of the optimized group can still adhere to clinical requirements. The MPn doping PMMA technique holds much promise in clinical practice.