Dual setting mineral cements with polymerisable organic matrix based on degradable polymers

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Uwe Gbureck; Professor Dr. Jürgen Groll
• Subject Area: Biomaterials
• Term: from 2014 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 254162938

An extension of the application of inorganic biocements to load-bearing defects is limited due to the brittle nature of the ceramic cement matrices. The proposed project deals with inorganic-organic composite materials which consist of a mineral cement phase and an in situ cross-linkable polymer phase which is dissolved in the cement liquid. Such dual-setting pastes should provide both a high compressive strength and a sufficient cohesion resistance until inorganic cement setting as well as an improved bending strength and work of fracture due to the polymer content. A general aim is the synthesis of degradable matrices of both the inorganic and the polymer phase such that a full material resorption is obtained with the replacement by native bone tissue. The inorganic cement phase set under acidic or neutral conditions to form degradable, hydrated calcium and magnesium phosphates such as brushite (CaHPO4*2H2O) or struvite (MgNH4PO4*6H2O). Requirements for the organic matrix are multifunctional, water soluble monomers and prepolymers derived from polyethylenglycol or polyglycidols with methacrylic (cross-linking), ester (e.g. lactide, degradation) and phosphate moieties (cement adhesion). The materials will be tested in contact to osteoblasts regarding their cytocompatibility while the degradation behaviour is demonstrated by cultivation of osteoclastic cells on the materials surface. The biomechanical performance is analysed by using both static and dynamic testing regimes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants