Pilot implantation study of a borate-glass filled hydrophilic bone cement

Hydrophilic composite-resin cements reinforced with highly degradable borate-glass may provide sustained strontium release to improve local bone quality. An 8 week pilot implantation study in a rabbit femoral defect model was conducted to evaluate the local response to new bone cement materials. The materials demonstrated favorable tissue responses with evidence of direct new bone formation. Counter to the literature, there were no beneficial effects associated with strontium releasing biomaterials. Nevertheless, highly hydrophilic glass filled cements may present benefit through rapid surface mineralization, and in vivo swelling, providing a press fit coupling to bone.