Glass-ionomers: bioactive implant materials

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Dental Materials

Background:

• Glass-ionomer cements (GICs), initially dental materials, possess advantages over acrylic bone cements, including controlled setting, absence of monomers, and enhanced therapeutic agent release.
• These properties have driven the development of GICs for diverse biomedical applications, particularly in hard tissue replacement and bone augmentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical development and material properties of glass-ionomer cements (GICs) for biomedical applications.
• To evaluate the efficacy and limitations of GICs in orthopedic, otologic, and oral surgery, focusing on bone integration and potential adverse effects.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on the formulation, material properties, and biological interactions of glass-ionomer cements.
• Analysis of clinical case reports and studies detailing the use of GICs in otologic, oral, and reconstructive surgery.

Main Results:

• GICs demonstrate a lack of exotherm during setting and improved release of therapeutic agents compared to acrylic bone cements.
• Following implantation, GICs integrate with bone and influence bone growth via ion release, but can adversely affect neural tissue.
• Successful clinical applications include otologic surgery (cochlear implants, tympanic membrane repair) and oral/reconstructive surgery.

Conclusions:

• Glass-ionomer cements are versatile biomaterials with proven efficacy in bone and hard tissue applications.
• Their non-inert nature necessitates caution, with contraindications for use in proximity to neural tissues due to potential adverse effects.