THE RELEASE OF SERUM-PROTEINS AND DYE FROM GLASS-IONOMER (POLYALKENOATE) AND ACRYLIC CEMENTS - A PILOT-STUDY

Glass ionomer cements (GICs) are composite materials with the potentia l for use as improved bone substitutes and cements. The hydrophilic na ture of the GIC matrix may confer the ability to release therapeutic a gents after surgical implantation which would aid the development of G ICs for wider biomedical application. Acrylic and GIC were loaded (5% w/w> with either a model dye or high molecular weight proteins and elu ted in vitro over 84 days to study simulated drug release. Serum prote ins were also adsorbed on to the surface of acrylic and two different GICs and desorption measured over six days. GIC was a suitable matrix for simple dye and protein release, protein release being greater from the GIC than from the acrylic cement. Selective desorption from the t wo different GICs studied was noted indicating GICs may be formulated to release specific drugs or proteins.