Key Engineering Materials Vols. 309-311

Abstract: In simulator studies, the Biolox-forte hip prosthesis were run for 5 million cycles (Mc) using 50% new born calf serum for both the standard test (STD) mode and the micro-separation test (MSX) mode. Wear measurements were carried out every 0.5 Mc. The wear patterns were mapped and observed by SEM. In a clinical study, the OstealTM hip prostheses which were implanted for 15 to 19 years and 17 year BioloxTM hip prostheses were analyzed. According to the same technique as the simulator study, the wear patterns were analyzed using SEM. The steady-state wear rates for alumina THR ranged from 0.16 to 0.65 mm3/Mc in the MSX mode and 0.011 mm3/Mc in the STD mode. The MSX simulator mode produced two narrow wear scars (stripes) of dull appearance on the ball. In the SEM analysis, the stripe scars showed mild wear after 5 Mc duration. In the Biolox and the Osteal retrieval alumina ball, the stripe scars showed severe wear. The Osteal retrievals had one grade lower wear in the main worn area than the Biolox retrievals on SEM analysis. The stripe wear and its location in the retrieval balls were seen in the simulator study. The area and wear severity of the stripe wear were influenced by the quality of alumina, design of THA and various actual motions in patients.

Abstract: It has been shown that with high interfacial temperatures in hip bearings, it is possible to precipitate proteins, greatly reduce the compressive creep properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), and change the phase content of monolithic tetragonal zirconia. These induced features may alter the wear rate of UHMWPE. It was the objective of this study to examine the interfacial temperatures of oxidized zirconium (OxZr) heads as compared with metallic and ceramic heads coupled with polyethylene in a hip simulator. The interface temperatures were measured by placing thermocouples within 0.5 mm of the interface surface of both femoral heads and acetabular liners, and then articulating the surfaces using a 12-station AMTI anatomic hip simulator. The alumina femoral heads had the lowest average interfacial temperature, followed in increasing order by OxZr, CoCr, and zirconia. The ranking corresponds to the thermal conductivity of each material. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was found between all four materials for the femoral head temperature. No difference was seen in liner temperature between the alumina and OxZr groups, but statistical differences were found between all other combinations. Additionally, increasing head diameter, peak load, cyclic frequency, and serum concentration all resulted in statistically significant increases in both femoral head and liner temperatures.

Abstract: We studied the long-term wear behaviour of alumina-doped zirconia femoral condyles against ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tibial inserts. The simulator kinematics included 20 degrees of flexion/extension, ± 5 degrees of internal/external rotation, and 6 mm of anterior/posterior translation. All knee components were subjected to 10 million cycles of normal walking (2.6 KN max, freq. 1.8 Hz). Lubricant was 50% alpha-calf serum (20 mg/ml protein) with EDTA. The tibial inserts were from one lot of ram-extruded UHMWPE and sterilized with 3.5-Mrad or 7-Mrad radiation dose. Soak controls were stored unloaded in deionised water for 60 days prior to testing. Implants were studied with high-resolution confocal Raman spectroscopy after 10-Mc duration. The wear of control knees (CoCr/3.5-Mrad) averaged 4.5mm3/Mc while the wear with the ZrO2/7-Mrad combination was unmeasurably low even after 10 million cycle duration. Raman Spectroscopy at 10-Mc duration showed only the presence of the desired tetragonal phase. Thus, the ZrO2/7-Mrad bearing combination should prove excellent for active patients who may otherwise risk high wear rates over many years of use.

Abstract: Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were deposited onto UHMWPE and PMMA substrates using plasma CVD process. To improve adhesion of DLC films, substrates were treated plasma before DLC deposition. Samples were analyzed by ball-on disk tester, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scratch test. Wear and scratch resistance of DLC-coated each substrates were evaluated and showed good results.

Abstract: The aseptic loosening of artificial joints with associated periprosthetic bone resorption may be partly due to the suppression of osteoblast function to form new bone by wear debris derived from the joint. To assess the effect of wear debris on osteoblasts, we cultured normal human osteoblasts (NHOst) in contact with several kinds of microspheres as models of wear debris. The NHOst in contact with polystyrene, polyethylene, and alumina microspheres showed a lower differentiation level than NHOst alone as estimated from the amounts of deposited calcium. On the other hand, hydroxyapatite particles enhanced the differentiation of NHOst. In addition, sintered hydroxyapatite enhanced expression of osteocalcin mRNA and gap junctional communication of NHOst. This study suggests that polystyrene, polyethylene, and alumina microspheres have the potential to disorder not only the differentiation but also the homeostasis of NHOst in contact with them. However, hydroxyapatite enhanced the differentiation as well as the homeostasis of NHOst, even in microsphere form, suggesting its good biocompatibility as biomaterials for bone tissues.

Abstract: Calcium phosphate (Ca-P) biomaterials have been proved to show osteoinductivity, however the affecting factors and mechanism are still unclear now. In this study, the surface characteristics of biphasic Ca-P ceramics (hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate; HA/TCP) sintered at the distinct temperature were investigated and the mechanism of the osteoinductivity was discussed. The osteoinductivity of HA/TCP ceramics increased with decreasing the sintering temperature. The different surface micro-structure resulted from different sintering temperature includes phase composition, surface micro-structure, and surface potential. These characteristics should be the important factors affecting osteoinductivity.

Abstract: Osteoinductive biomaterials are able of inducing bone formation at ectopic, i.e. extraskeletal implantation sites. It is, however, important to investigate whether osteoinductive biomaterials perform better when implanted orthotopically as well, in particular in clinically relevant criticalsized defects. In this study, an osteoinductive and a non-osteoinductive biphasic calcium-phosphate (BCP) ceramic were compared in a critical-sized iliac wing defect that allows for paired comparison. After 12 weeks of implantation in the critical-sized defect, the osteoinductive BCP1150 ceramic showed significantly more bone than the non-osteoinductive BCP1300 ceramic. In addition, the analysis of fluorochrome markers, which were administered to the animals 4, 6 and 8 weeks after implantation in order to visualize the bone growth dynamics, showed an earlier start of bone formation in BCP1150 as compared to BCP1300. Significantly better performance of osteoinductive ceramic in a critical-sized orthotopic defect in a large animal model in comparison to the non-osteoinductive ceramic suggests osteoinduction to be clinically relevant.

Abstract: Osteoinduction by biomaterials that initially do not contain bone morphogenetic proteins and other growth factors has been shown to be a real phenomenon by many investigators in the past two decades. Although it is well-known that a material needs to meet very specific requirements in terms of physico-chemical and structural properties in order to be osteoinductive, the underlying mechanism of osteoinduction is not fully unraveled yet. In the present study we investigated parameters which are of importance for the osteoinductive potential of biomaterials by comparing four biphasic calcium-phosphate and a carbonated apatite ceramic. The results showed that the presence of micropores, by which the specific surface area of a material is increased, is essential for the material’s osteoinductivity. However, if the surface area is too high, or material is too resorbable because of its chemical composition, the implant might degrade and lose its shape. In that case, ectopic bone formation does not occur, as a relatively stable surface is needed to facilitate new bone growth.

Abstract: We had investigated the biocompatibility, osteoconductivity, and biodegradability of a porous composite of hydroxyapatite (HA) and poly-DL-lactide (PDLLA) implanted into rabbit femoral condyles. It showed excellent osteoconductivity and biodegradability as a bone substitute. Newly formed bones were remodeled, and materials were resorbed almost completely at 78weeks after implantation. In consideration of its biocompatibility and degradability, we investigated its potential for use as a cellular scaffold and evaluated its osteoinductive property. On implantation to the rat dorsal subcutaneous tissue loaded with syngeneic bone marrow cells, osteogenesis with enchondral ossification was seen both on and in the material at 3 weeks after implantation. This osteogenesis in the HA/PDLLA tended to get mature and newly formed bone tissues were found in the material by 6weeks. To investigate the osteoinductive property material itself has, we attempted to implant this porous composite material to extra-osseous canine dorsal muscle. At 2months, osteogenesis was seen in the pores of the material. It indicated the material induced osteogenesis with intramembranous ossification process. Therefore, HA/PDLLA might be a desirable material for bone substitutes and cellar scaffolds with osteoconductive and osteoinductive property.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to optimize the surface treatment and to accelerate the osteoinductivity of porous bioactive titanium implant. Previous studies have reported that sodium removal with hot water treatment converts sodium titanate on the surface of an alkali-treated titanium plate into titania with a specific structure, which has better bioactivity than sodium titanate. We developed a dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) treatment for porous titanium, which removed sodium from the complexly shaped porous structure more effectively than conventional hot water treatment. Three types of surface treatments were applied: (a) alkali and heat treatment, (b) alkali, hot water, and heat treatment (conventional treatment), and (c) alkali, dilute HCl, hot water, and heat treatment (Na-free treatment). The osteoinductivity of the materials implanted in the back muscles of adult beagle dogs was examined at three, six, and twelve months. Na-free porous bioactive titanium exhibited the highest osteoinductivity, and bone formation was observed within three months. This study showed that sodium removal has a significant positive effect on the osteoinductivity of the porous bioactive titanium implant.