Long-term hip simulator testing of the artificial hip joint bearing surface grafted with biocompatible phospholipid polymer

• DOI: 10.1002/jor.22526
• Publication Date: 2013-11-19T11:58:58Z
• Authors: Toru Moro; Yoshio Takatori; Masayuki Kyomoto; Kazuhiko Ishihara; Masami Hashimoto; Hideya Ito; Takeyuki Tanaka; Hirofumi Oshima; Shigeyuki Tanaka; Hiroshi Kawaguchi
• Keywords: Weight-Bearing; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Polyethylene; Phosphorylcholine; Humans; Methacrylates; Biocompatible Materials; Hip Prosthesis; Prosthesis Failure

To prevent periprosthetic osteolysis and subsequent aseptic loosening of artificial hip joints, we recently developed a novel acetabular highly cross-linked polyethylene (CLPE) liner with graft polymerization of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) on its surface. We investigated the wear resistance of the poly(MPC) (PMPC)-grafted CLPE liner during 20 million cycles in a hip joint simulator. We extended the simulator test of one liner to 70 million cycles to investigate the long-term durability of the grafting. Gravimetric, surface, and wear particle analyses revealed that PMPC grafting onto the CLPE liner surface markedly decreased the production of wear particles and showed that the effect of PMPC grafting was maintained through 70 million cycles. We believe that PMPC grafting can significantly improve the wear resistance of artificial hip joints.