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Generation of narrowly distributed ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene particles by surface texturing techniques
Author(s) -
Fang HsuWei,
Hsu Stephen M.,
Sengers Jan V.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part b: applied biomaterials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.665
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1552-4981
pISSN - 1552-4973
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.b.10067
Subject(s) - materials science , polyethylene , ultra high molecular weight polyethylene , surface (topology) , nanotechnology , composite material , geometry , mathematics
Ultra‐high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear particles have been recognized as the cause of aseptic loosening in total joint replacement. Macrophage phagocytosis of wear particles induces human biological/physiological responses which eventually lead to bone resorption and osteolysis. However, the dependence of these reactions on the size and shape of the particles has not been elucidated and is not understood. This article describes a procedure to generate narrowly distributed UHMWPE particles of controlled size and shape through surface texturing by microfabrication. The textured surface is then used to rub against the polymer pins to produce wear particles in water. The surface texture produces elongated particles or equiaxed particles by design. The distribution of the particles, due to the surface‐texture control, is quite narrow as compared with randomly produced surfaces. With this technique, we are able to generate UHMWPE wear particles of different size and shape within phagocytosable and nonphagocytosable populations for biological response studies. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 67B: 741–749, 2003