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Biotribological properties at the stem-cement interface lubricated with different media
1State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Department of Precision Instruments and Mechanology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. zhanghyu@tsinghua.edu.cn
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
|March 23, 2013
Summary
Protein adsorption significantly impacts the friction and wear of hip implants. Promoting protein adsorption on stainless steel stems may reduce wear debris generation at the stem-cement interface.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tribology
- Orthopedic Engineering
Background:
- In vivo hip implant stem-cement interfaces inevitably debond under physiological loads.
- Pseudo-synovial fluid acts as a lubricant in the debonded interface.
- The role of protein adsorption on femoral stem surfaces in biotribology is often overlooked in in vitro studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biotribological properties at the stem-cement interface.
- To evaluate the influence of protein adsorption on friction and wear.
- To understand the effect of different lubricants on implant performance.
Main Methods:
- Fretting frictional tests were conducted on stainless steel 316L stems and bone cement at body temperature.
- Lubricants included 100% calf serum, 25% calf serum, and 0.9% saline solution.
- Surface characterization used optical microscopy, interferometry, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- Friction coefficients remained stable, with the lowest (0.254) observed using 100% calf serum.
- Scratches and alveolate protein films were observed on stems lubricated with calf serum.
- Wear scars formed on stems lubricated with saline solution.
Conclusions:
- Protein adsorption on stainless steel 316L stems influences biotribological properties under fretting.
- Modifying stem surface properties to enhance protein adsorption could potentially delay wear debris generation at the stem-cement interface.
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