Oxidation in ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and cross-linked polyethylene acetabular cups tested against roughened femoral heads in a hip joint simulator

This study was aimed at comparing the oxidative degradation of commercial acetabular cups made of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) and conventional ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). After testing against deliberately scratched CoCrMo femoral heads in a hip joint simulator, the cups, microtomed parallel to the articulating surface, were analyzed by IR spectroscopy. Due to the potential for artifacts caused by absorbed contaminants, the IR spectra were compared only after hexane extraction; actually, XLPE was found to absorb more serum than UHMWPE. The two sets of unworn acetabular cups showed different oxidation patterns with consequently different distributions of carbonyl species; unworn XLPE was characterized by lower contents of carbonyl species and hydrogen-bonded alcohols and higher contents of trans-vinylene species than unworn UHMWPE. Upon simulator testing, UHMWPE showed more significant changes in oxidation indexes and distribution of carbonyl compounds than XLPE, confirming a better wear behavior for XLPE under the adopted testing conditions.     

新型耐磨高分子人工关节材料生物相容性研究

新型耐磨高分子人工关节材料是用８０ＫｅＶ不同剂量Ｃ３Ｈ８＾＋和Ｎ２＾＋对超高分子聚乙烯样品表面进行离子注入后的材料,通过对该材料进行弹性反冲探测,显示其磨损性能增强。通过各项相容性试验,其均符合各项试验标准,并与对照样品在试验过程中出现的情况一致。因此,经离子注入的超高分子聚乙烯作为新型耐磨高分子人工关节材料可应用于临床。     

Chondrocyte acting as phagocyte to internalize polyethylene wear particles and leads to the elevations of osteoarthritis associated NO and PGE2

It remains a mystery about the role of chondrocyte or cartilage on the co-existence of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear particles from partial joint arthroplasty. An inverted co-culture system was performed to investigate the interactions between chondrocytes and UHMWPE wear particles. It was first time observed that chondrocytes can engulf UHMWPE particles and release osteoarthritis associated pro-inflammatory factors. TEM observation and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated the phagocytosis of particles by chondrocytes. It was found that polyethylene particles may reduce the viability of chondrocytes, and enhance the secretion of nitric oxide (NO) and PGE₂. In conclusion, all these phenomena may contribute to further cartilage degeneration after partial joint arthroplasty surgery. It is first identified in this study that the chondrocyte acts as phagocyte to internalize wear particles and leads to the elevations of precursor mediators of osteoarthritis.     

The influence of design, materials and kinematics on the in vitro wear of total knee replacements

Debris-induced osteolysis due to surface wear of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) bearings is a potential long-term failure mechanism of total knee replacements (TKR). This study investigated the effect of prosthesis design, kinematics and bearing material on the wear of UHMWPE bearings using a physiological knee simulator. The use of a curved fixed bearing design with stabilised polyethylene bearings reduced wear in comparison to more flat-on-flat components which were sterilised by gamma irradiation in air. Medium levels of crosslinking further improved the wear resistance of fixed bearing TKR due to resistance to strain softening when subjected to multidirectional motion at the femoral-insert articulating interface. Backside motion was shown to be a contributing factor to the overall rate of UHMWPE wear in fixed bearing components. Wear of fixed bearing prostheses was reduced significantly when anterior-posterior displacement and internal-external rotation kinematics were reduced due to decreased cross shear on the articulating surface and a reduction in AP displacement. Rotating platform mobile bearing prostheses exhibited reduced wear rates in comparison to fixed bearing components in these simulator studies due to redistribution of knee motion to two articulating interfaces with more linear motions at each interface. This was observed in two rotating platform designs with different UHMWPE bearing materials. In knee simulator studies, wear of TKR bearings was dependent on kinematics at the articulating surfaces and the prosthesis design, as well as the type of material.     

Numerical analysis of the effects of material parameters on the lubrication mechanism for knee prosthesis

The tibial component of current knee prostheses made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has a high degree of wear that causes knee inflammation, prosthesis loosening and subsequent replacement in not more than 15 years. In order to know which UHMWPE material properties have more influence on wear, a steady state lubrication model with non-Newtonian synovial fluid has been studied through numerical solution. The results show that UHMWPE has a very high elastic modulus that makes difficult a well lubricated artificial joint and induces the formation of very thin lubricating films between the moving surfaces with the same magnitude of roughness components. This study shows that the use of deformable porous materials in the tibial component could cause the lubricating film thickness to be higher than the average roughness and the pressure levels to be lower than the one predicted for UHMWPE. These two facts imply friction and wear reduction.     

Preparation of cross-linked carboxymethyl chitosan for repairing sciatic nerve injury in rats

A successful nerve regeneration process was achieved with nerve repair tubes made up of 1-ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) cross-linked carboxymethyl chitosan (CM-chitosan) with improved biodegradability. Chitosan has a very slow degradation rate, while the EDC cross-linked CM-chitosan tubes degraded to 30% of original weight during 8 weeks of incubation in lysozyme solution. In vitro cell culture indicated that the CM-chitosan films presented no cytotoxicity to Schwann cells. From in vivo studies using a 10 mm rat sciatic nerve defect model investigated by histomorphometry analysis, the average diameter of the fibers and the average thickness of myelin sheath in the CM-chitosan tubes were 3.7 ± 0.33 and 0.33 ± 0.04 μm, respectively, which demonstrated equivalence to nerve autografts (the current “gold” standard); furthermore, the average fiber density in the CM-chitosan tubes was 20.5 × 10³/mm², which was similar to that of autografts (21 × 10³/mm²) and significantly higher than that of common chitosan tubes (15.3 × 10³/mm²).     

运用偏振光观测聚乙烯磨屑颗粒诱导人工关节假体无菌性松动

目的:探讨运用偏振光显微镜来观测无菌性松动人工关节假体周围的聚乙烯颗粒分布,评估其在研究磨屑颗粒诱导假体无菌性松动机制及防治措施等实验研究中的可行性。方法:我们用雌性新西兰大白兔建立动物模型,在左侧胫骨髓腔内植入羟基磷灰石(hydroxyapatite,HA)涂层假体。并分别于假体表面和膝关节腔内植入0.5×107超高分子量聚乙烯(Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene,UHMWPE)颗粒。术后行四环素荧光双标记。膝关节滑膜组织苏木精-伊红(hematoxylin-eosin,HE)染色、骨组织改良丽春红染色后分别用普通光镜和偏振光镜观察,未染色的骨组织行荧光显微镜和偏振光镜观察。结果:在聚乙烯颗粒刺激下,膝关节滑膜组织增生明显,骨-假体结合差,假体周围骨小梁稀疏,偏振光显微镜可清晰显示双折光性的聚乙烯颗粒在膝关节分布于滑膜及其深层结缔组织中,在骨-假体间隙间大量充填,阻碍骨-假体整合。结论:运用偏振光显微镜可以清晰而简便地观察滑膜和假体周围的聚乙烯颗粒分布,与传统实验方法相比,更加直观、简便和经济。     

The ratio of amount of haemoglobin to total surface area of erythrocytes in mammals

The literature provides all the data needed to calculate the ratio between the amount of haemoglobin and the total surface area of erythrocytes in 54 species of mammals ranging in body mass from 2.5 g to more than 1000 kg. Analysis shows that the concentration of haemoglobin (Hb; g%) does not depend on the body mass of the mammals studied. The number of erythrocytes in 1 mm³ of blood (RBC; 10⁶×mm⁻³) is significantly lower, and the diameter of these cells significantly higher, among larger mammals as opposed to smaller ones. The result is that the total surface area of erythrocytes in 1 mm³ of blood (TSAE; mm²×mm⁻³) is significantly lower among larger mammals, while the Hb/TSAE ratio (pg×μm⁻²) is significantly greater. These results point to the smaller size of erythrocytes of smaller mammals permitting much greater numbers to exist, thereby producing a greater TSAE and smaller Hb/TSAE ratio. The greater total surface area of red blood cells per unit volume of blood in small mammals can in turn be presumed to allow for full saturation of haemoglobin by oxygen, even where the period of contact between erythrocytes and air in the lungs is shorter than in their larger counterparts.

     

Preparation of UHMWPE particles and establishment of inverted macrophage cell model to investigate wear particles induced bioactivites

Total joint replacement surgery has been widely applied to patients with severe osteoarthritis. Aseptic loosening induced by wear particles generated during joint movement is the major reason causing the failure of joint implants. Interaction of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear particles with macrophages stimulates the release of inflammatory cytokines and leads to bone resorption and osteolysis. Effect of UHMWPE particle size and shape on the bioactivities remains unclear due to the lack of particles with controlled morphology as well as adequate in-vitro cell culture models for further investigations. We have developed a micro-cutting procedure to generate UHMWPE particles with desired sizes and shapes by rubbing UHMWPE with microfabricated surfaces. A narrow distribution and sterility of the generated particles was achieved. An inverted cell culturing apparatus and procedures were created and the contact between particles and macrophage cells was observed. No significant difference of the cell proliferations under normal and inverted positions further demonstrates the feasibility of the system. This newly developed platform can assist in the further understanding of the mechanism and therapy strategies of osteolysis induced by polyethylene particles.     

人工关节假体无菌性松动动物模型的快速建立

目的:人工关节置换手术发展至今,取得了非常大的成功,已在临床解决了许多终末期的关节疾患。研究表明,假体无菌性松动的患者,其假体周围处于高骨更新状态。因此骨-假体界面的早期整合对于阻止磨屑颗粒和细胞因子的迁移至关重要,而限制人工关节假体使用寿命的一个主要原因是磨屑颗粒诱导的假体无菌性松动。在本研究中,我们旨在尝试使用107个UHMWPE颗粒快速建立人工关节假体无菌性松动的兔动物模型,以便为进一步探讨假体无菌性松动的机制及防治奠定实验基础。方法:我们用雌性新西兰大白兔建立动物模型,随机均分为实验组和对照组,在两组动物的左侧胫骨髓腔内植入羟基磷灰石(hydroxyapatite,HA)涂层假体。在实验组中,分别于假体表面和膝关节腔内植入0.5×10~7超高分子量聚乙烯(Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene,UHMWPE)颗粒。结果:同对照组相比,实验组动物的关节内压力更高、骨组织形态学参数更差、假体生物力学固定强度更低,同时,促炎细胞因子和骨更新标志均显著高于对照组。结论:我们使用很少的UHMWPE颗粒成功快速地建立了人工关节假体无菌性松动的兔动物模型,从而为今后人工关节假体无菌性松动的进一步研究奠定了实验基础。     

Quantification of the effect of cross-shear on the wear of conventional and highly cross-linked UHMWPE

A computational model has been developed to quantify the degree of cross-shear of a polyethylene pin articulating against a metallic plate, based on the direct simulation of a multidirectional pin-on-plate wear machine. The principal molecular orientation (PMO) was determined for each polymer site. The frictional work in the direction perpendicular to the PMO was assumed to produce the greatest orientation softening [Wang et al., 1997. Orientation softening in the deformation and wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Wear 203-204, 230-241]. The cross-shear ratio (CS) was defined as the frictional work perpendicular to the PMO direction, divided by the total frictional work. Cross-shear on the pin contact surface was location specific, and of continuously changing magnitude because the direction of frictional force continuously changed due to pin rotation. The polymer pin motion was varied from a purely linear track (CS=0) up to a maximum rotation of +/-55 degrees (CS=0.254). The relationship between wear factors (K) measured experimentally and theoretically predicted CS was defined using logarithmic functions for both conventional and highly cross-linked ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Cross-shear increased the apparent wear factor for both polyethylenes by more than fivefold compared to unidirectional wear.     

Study on Tribological Properties of Irradiated Crosslinking UHMWPE Nano-Composite

Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene(UHMWPE)has been widely used as a bearing material for artificial joint replacementover forty years.It is usually crosslinked by gamma rays irradiation before its implantation into human body.In thisstudy,UHMWPE and UHMWPE/nano-hydroxyapatite(n-HA)composite were prepared by vacuum hot-pressing method.Theprepared materials were irradiated by gamma rays in vacuum and molten heat treated in vacuum just after irradiation.The effectof filling n-HA with gamma irradiation on tribological properties of UHMWPE was investigated by using friction and wearexperimental machine(model MM-200)under deionized water lubrication.Micro-morphology of worn surface was observedby metallographic microscope.Contact angle and hardness of the materials were also measured.The results show that contactangle and hardness are changed by filling n-HA and gamma irradiation.Friction coefficient and wear rate under deionized waterlubrication are reduced by filling n-HA.While friction coefficient is increased and wear rate is reduced significantly by gammairradiation.The worn surface of unfilled material is mainly characterized as adhesive wear and abrasive wear,and that of n-HAfilled material is mainly characterized as abrasive wear.After gamma irradiation,the degrees of adhesive and abrasive wear forunfilled material and abrasive wear of n-HA filled material are significantly reduced.Unfilled and filled materials after irradiationare mainly shown as slight fatigue wear.The results indicate that UHMWPE and UHMWPE/n-HA irradiated at the doseof 150 kGy can be used as bearing materials in artificial joints for its excellent wear resistance compared to original UHMWPE.     

Picoplankton in Lake Maggiore,Italy

In 1992 we examined the morphological characteristics and space-time distribution of picoplankton cells in Lake Maggiore, a subalpine lake in which oligotrophication is in progress. We measured by image analyser the biovolume of autotrophic (APP), eukaryotic and prokaryotic. and heterotrophic (HPP) picoplankton. Among the APP < 2μm the yellow fluoresceing are the dominating cells in the euphoric zone. The red cells, mainly eukaryotic, on average are only 11% of the total abundance of cells < 5μm. The APP cell numbers range from 9.5 × 10³ cells ml⁻¹ to 1.3 × 10⁵ cells ml⁻¹ (average: 5 × 10⁴ cells ml⁻¹). Their mean biovolume shows a minimum value of 7.8mm³ m⁻³ in March and a maximum of 186.3mm³ m-³ in September. The contribution of biovolume of yellow cells to total phytoplankton biovolume varies between 0.3% and 27%. suggesting that picocyanobacteria, at this stage of lake recovery, are not yet a dominant component. The HPP cell density is two order of magnitude higher than the APP with a mean value of 2.6 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹. APP mean cell size fluctuates from a minimum of 0.5 μm to a maximum of 1.4urn (0.26–1.69μm³ volume), while HPP range from 0.4 to 0.7 um (0.07–0.57 μm³ volume), making it easier to distinguish them on a dimensional basis for most of the year. During the period of thermal stratification, a peak in abundance was noted in the central part of the metalimnion at depths receiving less than 10% of surface irradiance. The total picoplanktonic carbon fraction (APP and HPP) varied from 38 to 384 μgC 1⁻¹ with a mean value of 133μgC 1⁻¹ which represents 42% of POC collected on GF/C filters. Most of the picoplankton carbon is made up of HPP cells (34% of the total POC).     

The mycetocyte symbiosis of aphids: Variation with age and morph in virginoparae of Megoura viciae and Acyrthosiphon pisum

Prokaryotic symbionts of aphids, which are important to the survival of the insect, are housed in specialized cells, mycetocytes. In a study of the aphids Acyrthosiphon pisum and Megoura viciae, the mycetocytes were found to exhibit a consistent pattern of variation in both size and number, both with developmental age of the insect and between alate and apterous morphs. The number of mycetocytes ranged between 70–90 and 60–70 in 1-day old larvae of Megoura viciae and Acyrthosiphon pisum, respectively, and tended to 0 in post-reproductive individuals of both species, with a decrease of 50% between birth and the time of the final moult (days 7–9) in alates and in the late-reproductive period (days 17–18) in apterae. The volume of mycetocytes of M. viciae increased with age from 1.17 × 10⁻⁵ mm³ in 1-day old larvae to 7.63 × 10⁻⁵ mm³ and 5.09 × 10⁻⁵ mm³ in apterous and alate teneral adults (day 8), respectively, and this difference between the morphs closely mirrors the difference between the relative growth rates of apterous and alatiform larvae. It is suggested that mycetocyte loss may represent an important means by which the symbiont population is regulated. The results can also be interpreted as evidence for substantial variation in the characteristics of nutritional interactions between the aphid and its symbionts with age and morph of the aphid.     

Microstructure analysis and wear behavior of titanium cermet femoral head with hard TiC layer

Titanium cermet was successfully synthesized and formed a thin gradient titanium carbide coating on the surface of Ti6Al4V alloy by using a novel sequential carburization under high temperature, while the titanium cermet femoral head was produced. The titanium cermet phase and surface topography were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and backscattered electron imaging (BSE). And then the wear behavior of titanium cermet femoral head was investigated by using CUMT II artificial joint hip simulator. The surface characterization indicates that carbon effectively diffused into the titanium alloys and formed a hard TiC layer on the Ti6Al4V alloys surface with a micro-porous structure. The artificial hip joint experimental results show that titanium cermet femoral head could not only improve the wear resistance of artificial femoral head, but also decrease the wear of UHMWPE joint cup. In addition, the carburized titanium alloy femoral head could effectively control the UHMWPE debris distribution, and increase the size of UHMWPE debris. All of the results suggest that titanium cermet is a prospective femoral head material in artificial joint.     

In vitro wear simulation on the RandomPOD wear testing system as a screening method for bearing materials intended for total knee arthroplasty

The 16-station RandomPOD wear test system, previously validated for prosthetic hip wear, was used in the simulation of knee wear mechanisms with a ball-on-flat test configuration. This consisted of a CoCr pin with a ground and polished spherical bearing surface (radius 28 mm) against a conventional, gamma-sterilized UHMWPE disk in serum lubrication. The biaxial motion, consisting of x and y translations, and the load was non-cyclic. Relative to the disk, the center of contact wandered within a circle of 10 mm diameter, and the average sliding velocity was 15.5 mm/s (ranging from 0 to 31 mm/s). The load varied non-cyclically between 0 and 142 N (average 73 N). In the 60-day test with 16 similar wear couples, moderate adhesive wear, the principal wear mechanism of a well-functioning prosthetic knee, dominated. This showed as a burnished, circular wear mark (diameter 13.2 mm, area 137 mm²). The wear factor was 2.04±0.03×10⁻⁶ mm³/N m (mean±95 percent confidence limit). For the first time a truly multidirectional, realistic and uniform, large capacity pin-on-disk simulation of knee wear mechanisms was implemented.     

Study on Biotribological Behavior of the Combined Joint of CoCrMo and UHMWPE/BHA Composite in a Hip Joint Simulator

UHMWPE composites reinforced with Bovine Bone Hydroxyapatite(BHA)in different contents were prepared by heatpressing formation method.A hip joint wear simulator was used to investigate the biotribological behavior of UHMWPE/BHAcomposite acetabular cups against CoCrMo alloy femoral heads in bovine synovia lubrication at 37±1 ℃.It was found that theaddition of BHA powder to UHMWPE can improve the hardness and creep modulus of UHMWPE/BHA composites,anddecrease their wear rates under bovine synovia lubrication.When the content of BHA filler particles was up to 30 wt%,UHMWPE/BHA composites demonstrated the well design performances of the surface and biotribological properties.Fatigue,ploughing and slight adhesive wear were the main wear mechanisms for UHMWPE and its composites.In addition,the sizes ofwear particles became larger with an increase in BHA powder addition.These results suggest that BHA filler is a desirablecomponent to increase the wear resistance of UHMWPE/BHA composites for biomedical applications.     

Characterization of Brackish Coastal Waters of Different Trophic Levels by Means of Phytoplankton Biomass and Primary Production

Investigations on phytoplankton have been carried out in Baltic coastal waters, which are widely separated from the sea. Corresponding to their distance to the sea they differ in their trophic level. Annual phytoplankton production and a mean biovolume of 100-200 g C · m⁻² and 2-10 mm⁻³ · 1⁻¹ respectively were found for the mesotrophic level, of 200-400 g C · m⁻² and 10-20 mm³ · 1⁻¹ for the eutrophic level, and of 400-600 g C · m⁻² and over 20 mm³ · 1⁻¹ for the polytrophic level. In the course of nearly two decades of investigation a slight increase of phytoplankton biovolume, but no increase of primary production was recorded. Some changes in species composition are to be recognized in Greifswalder Bodden, if old literature is compared with recent data. In the Darss-Zingst boddens a shift from Cyanobacteria dominance towards Chlorophyceae dominance has appeared for at least 5 years. This was on account of the disappearance of Gomphosphaeria pusilla, which is thought to be an indicator species of the mesotrophic level.     

The effect of tube focal spot size and acquisition mode on task-based image quality performance of a GE revolution HD dual energy CT scanner

PurposeTo assess the task-based performance of images obtained under different focal spot size and acquisition mode on a dual-energy CT scanner.MethodsAxial CT image series of the Catphan phantom were obtained using a tube focus at different sizes. Acquisitions were performed in standard single-energy, high resolution (HR) and dual-energy modes. Images were reconstructed using conventional and high definition (HD) kernels. Task-based transfer function at the 50% level (TTF_50%) for teflon, delrin, low density polyethylene (LDPE) and acrylic, as well as image noise and noise texture, were assessed across all focal spots and acquisition modes using Noise Power Spectrum (NPS) analysis. A non-prewhitening mathematical observer model was used to calculate detectability index ($d_{\mathit{NPW}}^{\prime }$).ResultsTTF_50% degraded with increasing focal spot size. TTF_50% ranged from 0.67 mm⁻¹ for teflon to 0.25 mm⁻¹ for acrylic. For standard kernel, image noise and NPS-determined average spatial frequency were 8.3 HU and 0.29 mm⁻¹, respectively in single-energy, 12.0 HU and 0.37 mm⁻¹ in HR, and 7.9 HU and 0.26 mm⁻¹ in dual-energy mode. For standard kernel, $d_{\mathit{NPW}}^{\prime }$ was 61 in single-energy and HR mode and reduced to 56 in dual-energy mode.ConclusionsThe task-based image quality assessment metrics have shown that spatial resolution is higher for higher image contrast materials and detectability is higher in the standard single-energy mode compared to HR and dual-energy mode. The results of the current study provide CT operators the required knowledge to characterize their CT system towards the optimization of its clinical performance.     

Performance of cross-linked enzyme crystals of engineered halohydrin dehalogenase HheG in different chemical reactor systems

Halohydrin dehalogenase HheG is an industrially interesting biocatalyst for the preparation of different β-substituted alcohols starting from bulky internal epoxides. We previously demonstrated that the immobilization of different HheG variants in the form of cross-linked enzyme crystals (CLECs) yielded stable and reusable enzyme immobilizes with increased resistance regarding temperature, pH, and the presence of organic solvents. Now, to further establish their preparative applicability, HheG D114C CLECs cross-linked with bis-maleimidoethane have been successfully produced on a larger scale using a stirred crystallization approach, and their application in different chemical reactor types (stirred tank reactor, fluidized bed reactor, and packed bed reactor) was systematically studied and compared for the ring opening of cyclohexene oxide with azide. This revealed the highest obtained space-time yield of 23.9 kg_product g_CLEC⁻¹ h⁻¹ L_{reactor volume}⁻¹ along with the highest achieved product enantiomeric excess [64%] for application in a packed-bed reactor. Additionally, lyophilization of those CLECs yielded a storage-stable HheG preparation that still retained 67% of initial activity (after lyophilization) after 6 months of storage at room temperature.