title: Use of alpha-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) as powders and as an aqueous dispersion to modify processing, microstructure, and mechanical properties of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cements and to produce bone-substitute compounds.
abstract: Addition of tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) powders as an aqueous dispersion to a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement is shown to produce a class of composites that due to their microstructure and mechanical properties may be suitable for application as bone substitutes. The PMMA forms a solid cellular matrix with open cells about 100 micrometer in size and incorporating TCP clusters. The TCP aggregates inside the cells form a porous network, with average mesopore diameters of about 0.1 micrometer, that is accessible from the outer surface. If TCP is added to PMMA in the form of dried powders, the composites are not applicable as bone substitutes. The dynamic elastic modulus (DEM) and compressive and tensile strengths were measured and discussed for both classes of composites. The mechanical properties of the bone-substitute composites, although lower than the other class of composites, are still competitive with those properties of a porous ceramic matrix of hydroxyapatite and with those of natural bones.
authors.affiliation: DEUIM, University of Genoa, Pz. le J.F. Kennedy, Fiera del Mare, Pad. D, 16129 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Beruto
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mezzasalma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capurro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Botter
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cirillo
mesh_terms: D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D020366:Methylmethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D001843:Bone Cements; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C485828:alpha-tricalcium phosphate; C485830:tetracalcium phosphate; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; C485838:calcium phosphate, monobasic, anhydrous; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; C020243:calcium phosphate; C485829:calcium phosphate, dibasic, anhydrous