Monomer release from methacrylate bone cements during simulated in vivo polymerization.

The release of monomer from methylmethacrylate bone cements was studied during immersion in an aqueous environment intended to simulate in vivo polymerization of the material. Monomer release from disk-shaped specimens into an aqueous environment was assayed by gas chromatography. The simulated intracorporal polymerization was carried out under a variety of conditions intended to encompass possible clinical variables. The majority of monomer release occurred within the first 15 min of immersion. Under conditions generally recommended for commercial cements the release into aqueous media was always less than 3% of the total monomer weight. Clinically feasible options of delaying the time from onset of mixing of the cement to insertion into the host resulted in only a 0.7 wt % difference in the amount of released monomer. Measurements for a variety of monomer/powder ratios demonstrated a minimum in the amount of released monomer at a ratio of about 0.4 ml/g. In terms of unit area covered, thin specimens released less monomer than thick specimens.