Studies of the stability and toxicity of zinc polyacrylate (polycarboxylate) cements (PAZ).

Zinc polycarboxylate cement (PAZ) was shown to actively bond to 45Ca in vitro, with maximum uptake occurring at a Ca+2 concentration of 0.2 mg/ml. When the resultant PAZ-45Ca complex was subsequently incubated in the presence of high levels of unlabeled Ca+2, there was an exchange between the 45Ca bond to the cement and the Ca+2 in solution. When PAZ prepared using 65Zn was incubated with high levels of Ca+2, there was no exchange between the Ca and the 65Zn. 14C-PA failed to be taken up by L-cells in tissue culture, during 16 division cycles. Using radioactive PAZ prepared from 14C-PA, the PA moiety of the cement was shown to be extremely insoluble and stable in vivo.