Biomedical Applications of Polymethylmethacrylate Bone Cement

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement has been a cornerstone of orthopaedic and dental surgery for over half a century, serving as a grout-like medium to anchor implants, stabilise fractures and fill osseous defects. Its rapid in situ polymerisation, ease of handling and mechanical stability under compressive load make it especially suited to joint arthroplasty, vertebroplasty and maxillofacial reconstruction. However, the inert nature of PMMA limits its capacity for bone bonding, and its high elastic modulus can lead to stress shielding. Furthermore, bacterial adhesion and ensuing infections pose significant clinical challenges. To overcome these drawbacks, research has diversified into antibiotic-loaded formulations, incorporation of osteoconductive fillers and development of composite cements with tunable degradation, enhanced bioactivity and controlled release properties. Recent advances include the integration of bioactive glass, calcium phosphate and organic matrices to promote osseointegration, as well as nanoscale reinforcement to optimise mechanical properties. Tailoring cement porosity and cement–bone interfacial chemistry has paved the way for injectable, minimally invasive procedures in spinal and dental applications. Emerging trends focus on multifunctional cements capable of simultaneous antimicrobial action, bone regeneration and local drug delivery, with the ultimate goal of reducing revision surgeries and improving long-term patient outcomes.

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Biomedical Applications of Polymethylmethacrylate Bone Cement publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in biomedical applications of polymethylmethacrylate bone cement across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Osteoconductivity: The ability of a material to serve as a scaffold for new bone growth along its surface.
Osseointegration: The formation of a direct interface between an implant and bone without intervening fibrous tissue.
Mesenchymal stem cells: Multipotent cells found in bone marrow that can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes and other cell types.
Biomineralization: The process by which living organisms produce mineralised tissues, often involving deposition of calcium phosphate.
Elastic modulus: A measure of a material’s stiffness, defined as the ratio of stress to strain in the elastic deformation region.

References

1. In vitro osteoconductivity of PMMA-Y2O3 composite resins. Advanced Industrial and Engineering Polymer Research (2023).
2. Bioactive mineralized small intestinal submucosa acellular matrix/PMMA bone cement for vertebral bone regeneration. Regenerative Biomaterials (2023).
3. Integrating Phosphate Enhances Biomineralization Effect of Methacrylate Cement in Vital Pulp Treatment with Improved Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Stimulation. Advanced Healthcare Materials (2024).