ADHESIVE BONE-CEMENT CONTAINING HYDROXYAPATITE PARTICLE AS BONE COMPATIBLE FILLER

Acrylic bone cement containing hydroxyapatite (HA) as a filler was developed using 4-methacryloyloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride (4-META) to promote adhesion both to bone and HA. The mechanical strengths of the cement did not decrease significantly with increasing HA in the cement by 4-META. However, strengths decreased with increasing HA content in the absence of 4-META. Scanning electron micrographic examination of fractured surfaces of the cement clearly showed that the HA particles adhered to the matrix resin when 4-META was added. Thus, it was important to maintain the original mechanical strengths for 4-META. The HA particles along the surface increased with increased HA content in the cement. The cement adhered to bone with a tensile bond strength was higher than 10 MPa.