Biocompatibility and Antibacterial Potential of Tetrahedral Amorphous Carbon (ta-C) Coatings on CoCrMo Alloy for Articulating Implant Surfaces.

Premature implant failure, a critical concern in biomedical applications, is often attributed to poor biocompatibility and vulnerability to bacterial colonization. These issues are addressed by creating an endoprosthetic material with natural biocompatibility and antibacterial properties. In this in vitro study, the relaxed and unrelaxed tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) coatings were examined, both fabricated by the improved patented Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) technology.

[Tribology in arthroplasty : Friction and wear, a key to a long lifetime].

This article is intended to highlight one of the key roles in endoprosthetic treatment with artificial implants and the extension of service life. Like every joint, artificial joints are subject to the physical laws of friction and wear-in short, tribology. Material pairings, surfaces and mechanisms of action in particular play a decisive role here.

High frequency of BCP, but less CPP crystal-mediated calcification in cartilage and synovial membrane of osteoarthritis patients.

Objective: Ectopic articular calcification is a common phenomenon of osteoarthritic joints, and closely related to disease progression. Identification of the involved calcium crystal types represents an important topic in research and clinical practice. Difficulties in accurate detection and crystal type identification have led to inconsistent data on the prevalence and spatial distribution of Basic calcium phosphate (BCP) and calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) deposition.

In vivo corrosion on retrieved hip endoprostheses and in vitro effects of corrosion products on bone mineralization.

In vivo corrosion of modular endoprostheses remains a great concern, as the release of heavy metal ions can impair the implant's service life and the wellbeing of the patient. The detailed corrosion mechanisms that occur in vivo are so far not completely understood. In this context, the effects of implant released cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) ions on osteoblast mineralization and gene expression have not been investigated extensively.

Damage analysis of retrieved Bioloxdelta components used in hard and soft bearings.

This retrieval study included 43 Biolox delta explants (18 CoC, 25 CoP). Implants were examined macroscopically, whereby damage was evaluated using a semi quantitative scoring system. Confocal microscopy was used to examine wear related damage patterns of the articulating surfaces.