UHMWPE Components Research Articles

The Role of IL-6RA in UHMWPE Promotes Proliferation in Fibro-Like Synovial Cells.

UHMWPE granule could induce macrophages and inflammatory responses in interfacial tissues, which eliminated the wear debris of UHMWPE component and further induced dissolution of the surrounding bone, leading aseptic loosening. However, the mechanism of synovial cells, especially fibroblast-like synovial (FLS) cells response to UHMWPE, remains unknown. Herein we choose FLS cells as research object. Vimentin (+) CD68 (-) was identified by flow cytometry and immunofluorescent staining assay, and the cells were identified as FLS cells, which was consistent with the experimental requirements. The inhibitory evaluation showed that UHMWPE could significantly promote the proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of FLS cells in dose- and time-dependent manners and increase the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, PGE2, MMP2, and LOX. UHMWPE also can induce the expression of mIL-6R protein in FLS cells and further investigate the relationship between apoptosis and inflammation. Interestingly enough, when we added the interleukin-6 receptor antagonist (IL-6RA), the expression levels of proapoptosis-related proteins increased; in other words, UHMWPE-induced antiapoptosis diminished by IL-6RA (50 μg/ml). Taken together, these findings clearly demonstrated that UHMWPE promote growth in FLS cells through upregulating inflammatory factors to produce antiapoptotic effect.

Tailored bimodal ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene particles

ABSTRACTA single molecular catalyst system supported on MgCl2 has been developed and combined with a simple two‐stage fed‐batch polymerization process to produce tailored bimodal polyethylene reactor blend particles of UHMWPE. By varying and controlling the process conditions in the first stage and second stage, bimodal HMWPE:UHMWPE reactor particles are obtained with independent control over the individual molar masses, the mass ratio of the HMWPE and UHMWPE components, and the reactor powder particle size. This allows multidimensional control over the individual UHMWPE reactor particle properties. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 1645–1656

Influence of Five-Year Degradation on Mechanical and Tribology Properties of Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene

ABSTRACTUltra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been the most commonly used bearing material in total joint replacement. The degradation of UHMWPE components has a notable influence on its mechanical properties. UHMWPE samples were immersed in simulated fluid (SBF) up to 5 years and the change in chemical composition and mechanical and wetting properties was investigated. It was found that the oxygen/carbon (O/C) ratio and crystallinity increased from 14.5 and 50.0% before immersion to 52.8 and 60.7% after immersion in SBF for 5 years, respectively. These resulted in a reduction in ball indentation hardness, scratch coefficient, peak load, and contact angle by 35.7, 21.0, 15.8, and 14.0%, respectively, after 5 years of immersion. The steady-state friction coefficient and wear rate increased 83.3 and 43.8%, respectively, after immersion in SBF for 5 years. The preliminary study indicated that the scratch test was an effective method to evaluate the surface performance of UHMWPE after short-term degradation, and small punch test was often used to assess the bulk properties of UHMWPE after long-term degradation.

人工関節用ビタミンE混合超高分子量ポリエチレンの開発(<特集>医療福祉機器を産業化するまでのステップとその課題)

人工関節用ビタミンE混合超高分子量ポリエチレンの開発(<特集>医療福祉機器を産業化するまでのステップとその課題)

Evaluation of UHMWPE Component under Various Positions for UKA

The development of artificial joints is now considered quite mature, and the main treatment for osteoarthritis. However, in recent unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) clinical follow-ups, complications due to wear of polyethylene (PE) tibial components still exist. Therefore, this study focused on the possibility of avoiding and minimizing damage to the PE tibial component. Currently, the most common problem in the application of UKA is the malresection of the tibial plateau, often resulting in malpositioning of the tibial implant. This positioning problem may be the main reason for advanced wear and dislocation of a PE tibial component. In this study, finite element analysis (FEA) was used to study the stress change of malpositioned PE tibial components in order to better understand the damaging mechanism on PE tibial components. It was found that anatomically designed unicompartmental knee prostheses (UKP) allowed more positioning error in varus tilt than symmetrically designed ones. And both should avoid any positional error greater than 10° valgus tilt. Otherwise, increased wear of PE tibial components would result in shortened lifetime of the artificial joint.

Study of mechanical degradation of UHMWPE acetabular components due to clinical X-ray procedures

The use of multi-component femoral implants to replace the femur head and re-establish bone motion has been widespread since the 70s. Frequently these implants have spherical metallic heads made of, for example, 316-L stainless steel or Cr-Co alloys, which allow rotational motion towards a polymeric component (UHMWPE). One of the major causes of implant rejection is the generation of UHMWPE debris on the surface between the implant head and the polymeric component. The gamma ray sterilization of implants and the periodical X-ray medical control could contribute to premature degradation of the polymeric surface, resulting in increased wear and shortened lifetime of the implant. In this work we study the degradation degree of the polymeric UHMWPE component as function of the X-ray dose. The elasto-plastic deformation and recovery were carried out by means of a nanohardness tester equipment and the polymer degradation was measured using a fast Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) equipment. The results show the compromise among the irradiation doses, the surface oxidation and the mechanical properties of the samples.

Effect of Interface Conditions between Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene and Polymethyl Methacrylate Bone Cement on the Mechanical Behaviour of Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the interface condition between polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement and the ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMWPE) glenoid component on cement stresses and glenoid component tilting in a finite element (FE) model. The background of this research is that most FE models assume bonding between the PMMA bone cement and the UHMWPE component, although it is very doubtful that this bonding is present. An FE model of a cemented glenoid component was developed and a joint compression force and subluxation force of 725 and 350 N respectively were applied. The maximal principal stresses in the cement layer ranged between 21.30 and 32.18 MPa. Glenoid component tilting ranged between 0.943 degrees and 0.513 degrees. It was found that the interface condition has a large effect on the maximal principal stresses and glenoid component tilting. Whether adhesion between the UHMWPE component and PMMA bone cement occurs is unknown beforehand and, as a result, design validation using the FE technique should be carried out both by using contact elements in combination with a coefficient of friction as well as by a full bonding at this interface.

116 人工関節用 UHMWPE の酸化劣化パターンが摩耗に及ぼす影響

116 人工関節用 UHMWPE の酸化劣化パターンが摩耗に及ぼす影響

Dynamic contact stress and rolling resistance model for total knee arthroplasties.

Problems associated with premature failure of total knee replacements (TKR's) include: wear, creep, and oxidation of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPe) as well as adverse tissue reactions to polyethylene wear debris. These problems are associated in part with the mechanical behavior of UHMWPe. In TKR's, contact stress analyses have been performed on the UHMWPe tibial component; however, most have employed simplified material properties and not accounted for joint kinematics. A nonlinear viscoelastic rolling model was developed for TKR's to predict the contact stress and rolling friction for varying rolling speed, conformity, applied load, and tibial plateau thickness. Results indicated that the contact stress increased and rolling friction decreased with increasing rolling speed. Effects of conformity, applied load, and tibial plateau thickness were consistent with previous models. At large rolling speeds, predicted peak contact stresses were almost twice their static value, resulting in a compound fatigue problem in UHMWPe components due to normal cyclic loading, moving point of contact, and velocity-dependent stresses.