Release of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 from heterocyclic methacrylate polymer systems

The release of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) from three room temperature polymerising methacrylate systems has been studied. These all contained poly(ethyl methacrylate) powder, but the monomer liquids comprised, respectively, tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (THFM), 90/10 THFM/hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and 70/30 THFM/HEMA. In all cases, rhBMP-2 was released, but the addition of 10% HEMA accelerated release (a nine-fold increase in diffusion coefficient); a further increase to 30% HEMA had no additional effect. For most of the release process, a diffusion process operated, although the early stages were not well defined. At the end of the 15 day period, the release, respectively, for the PEM/THFM, PEM:90/10 THFM/HEMA and PEM:70/30 THFM/HEMA systems was 596, 878 and 923 ng (i.e. up to 92% of the rhBMP-2 added).