Mechanical properties of Palacos^® MV bone cements containing magnetic glass-ceramic particles

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is the most used bone cement in orthopaedic surgery for the fixation of prosthetic components or filling bone defects. PMMA bone cements containing magnetic particles have been explored for the treatment of bone cancers using magnetic induction hyperthermia. In this study, different formulations of magnetic bone cements were developed by mixing up to 40 wt% of magnetic glass-ceramics with Palacos^® MV, a commercial PMMA bone cement with medium viscosity. Mechanical properties of these magnetic bone cements were investigated and compared to the non-magnetic commercial Palacos^® MV cement, which was used as control. Setting time, setting temperature, compressive strength, bending strength and bending modulus of these magnetic bone cements were evaluated using the ISO 5833:2002 standard guidelines. Vickers hardness tests were carried out using ASTM E384-22 standard. Setting time increased with the amount of magnetic glass-ceramic in the bone cement. Setting temperatures of magnetic cements and non-magnetic control are similar. All magnetic bone cements have the average compressive strength above 70 MPa and the average bending modulus above 1.8 GPa, and meet the requirements of the ISO 5833:2002 standard. Only magnetic cements containing up to 30 wt% of magnetic glass-ceramic have the average bending strength above 50 MPa and comply with the ISO 5833:2002 standard requirement. All magnetic bone cements have Vickers hardness higher than the control cements. Thus, magnetic cements containing up to 30 wt% of magnetic glass-ceramic have the potential to be used for the treatment of bone cancers.