UHMWPE carrying estradiol to treat the particle-induced osteolysis-Processing and characterizing

The objective of this study was to explore the possibility of UHMWPE implant used as the drug carrier to treat particle-induced osteolysis. 17beta-estradiol (E2), which had the potential application on osteolysis treatment and the high melting point, was added into UHMWPE powder to produce UHMWPE-E2 composites through hot press processing. The hydrophobicity, crystallinity, mechanical properties, and wear performance of the UHMWPE-E2 were characterized compared with the control UHMWPE. The thermal analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy results demonstrated that the hot press processing would not alter the functional groups of E2 in this study. There were no significant differences in the hydrophobicity and crystallinity between the UHMWPE-E2 and UHMWPE. The UHMWPE-E2 showed satisfying mechanical properties, including ultimate tensile strength (47.2 +/- 3.6 MPa), yield strength (25.0 +/- 0.6 MPa) and elongation at break (320 +/- 25.5 %), which were similar with the control UHMWPE. The friction coefficients and worn scars were similar between the UHMWPE-E2 and the control UHMWPE. The wear mechanism of the UHMWPE-E2 and UHMWPE both were abrasive wear under dry friction. The UHMWPE-E2 possesses the approving mechanical properties and wear performance compared with the control UHMWPE, which might be used as the potential implanted drug carrier to prevent the particle-induced osteolysis in joint replacements.