Poly(methyl methacrylate)-based biocidal polymers for the production of bone cement

• Grant number: 23/07766-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Industrial Operations and Equipment for Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Liliane Maria Ferrareso Lona
• Grantee: Chen Jia Hao
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the medical field, biocidal polymers play a fundamental role, as they are capable of preventing or reducing infections if implants or prostheses are made with these materials. The objective of this project is the development of polymeric materials based on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with biocidal capacity and physical-chemical characteristics suitable for use as bone cement. These materials will be obtained by free radical polymerization of the monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of the polymer poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), the chemical initiator benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and the activator N,N-dimethyl-p -toluidine (DMpT), following the proportions shown on commercial bone cement packages. A detailed study will be made to determine how the ambient temperature during the synthesis affects the properties of the formed polymeric material. For the most promising condition, a biocidal agent will be added to the sample, which may be either quaternized Poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI-QA) or the antibiotics vancomycin and gentamicin. The effect of adding these biocidal agents on the physicochemical properties of the polymeric materials will be verified. It is worth mentioning that the PEI-QA has already been synthesized by our group, and that this project is part of a doctoral project developed by the co-advisor of this CI project.