Short carbon fiber reinforced composites could potentially replace some of the metal alloys used in orthopedic implants. In particular, polysulfone and, more recently, polyetheretherketone have been considered as the matrix material for carbon fiber reinforced composite implant materials. ASTM standards F813 and F619 for direct contact cell culture evaluation and extraction were employed to determine the in vitro biocompatibility of a carbon fiber composite of polyetheretherketone, PEEK, in comparison to a carbon fiber reinforced polysulfone composite. The cell cultures were assessed qualitatively by microscopy and quantitatively using an enzyme assay to determine cytotoxicity. Overall, the cellular response to the PEEK and polysulfone composites were negligible indicating that further in vivo studies with these materials are appropriate.

The nature and distribution of corrosion products released into the body from orthopaedic implants remains an important issue. Various approaches to study this problem have been taken, such as the injection of metal salts, the injection of corrosion products, analysis of retrieved implants and adjacent tissue, and stimulated corrosion in vivo, with collection of body fluids and tissues for analysis. Tissue culture techniques have also been used to study the cellular response to metal salts or to corrosion or wear products that were generated in a separate environment. In this study, fretting corrosion of stainless steel plates and screws and of cobalt-chromium alloy plates with stainless steel screws was undertaken within a cell culture. The results showed that the cell cultures remained viable despite considerable metal ion release. Nickel was released in all cultures with fretting corrosion and was found mainly in the tissue culture medium (supernatant of the harvested cultures). Cobalt was detected only in those cultures with fretting corrosion of the cobalt-chromium alloy, and it was present mainly in the tissue culture medium. Chromium was released in all cultures with fretting corrosion, and it was found to be associated mainly with the cells with little in the culture medium. This compartmentalization of cell-associated chromium and fluid-associated cobalt and nickel supports in vivo studies showing chromium accumulation in red blood cells or tissue sites and comparatively low levels of nickel and cobalt.

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