Investigation of the effects of electrochemical reactions on complex metal tribocorrosion within the human body

Abstract

Although total hip arthroplasty (THA) is considered to be the most successful orthopedic operation in restoring mobility and relieving pain, common Metal-on-Metal (MoM) implants developed in the past decade suffer from severe inflammatory reactions of the surrounding tissue caused by the premature corrosion and degradation of the implant. A substantial amount of research has been dedicated to the investigation of mechanically driven fretting and crevice corrosion as the primary mechanism of implant failure. However, the exact mechanism by which hip implant breakdown occurs remains unknown, as current in vitro fretting and crevice corrosion studies have failed to completely replicate the corrosion characteristics of recovered implants. Here, we show that minor electric potential oscillations on a model hip implant replicate the corrosion of failed implants without the introduction of mechanical wear. We found in a controlled lab setting that small electrical oscillations, of similar frequency and magnitude as those resulting from ambient electromagnetic waves interacting with the metal of the implant, can force electrochemical reactions within a simulated synovial fluid environment that have not been previously predicted. In lab testing we have shown the replication of titanium, phosphorous, and oxygen deposition onto the surface of ASTM astm:F75 CoCrMo metal alloy test specimens, matching the chemical composition of previously retrieved wear particles from failed patient prosthetics. Our results demonstrate that the electrical activity and ensuing electrochemical activity excites two corrosion failure modes: direct dissolution of the medically implantable alloy, leaching metal ions into the body, and surface deposition growth, forming the precursor of secondary wear particles. We anticipate our findings to be the foundation for the future development and testing of electrochemically resistant implantable material.

Computational design of corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant titanium alloys for orthopedic implants

“…A more realistic analysis is to study the tribocorrosion degradation by combining the corrosion and wear degradation processes [51]. However, tribocorrosion experimental analysis in simulated human body conditions [52][53][54][55][56][57] or numerical simulations of tribocorrosion [58] are time-consuming and cannot serve as a high-throughput measure for down-selecting implant materials. Another avenue that our study does not investigate in depth is the bio-compatibility of our output alloys.…”

Polycrystalline Diamond as a Potential Material for the Hard-on-Hard Bearing of Total Hip Prosthesis: Von Mises Stress Analysis

“…Over the last few decades, polymer, metal, and ceramic have been the available material options for application consideration in the bearing of total hip prosthesis [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Each material has its advantages, polymer is capable of effective damping due to impact loads from unexpected activities [ 4 ]; metals are suitable for active younger users with high-level intensity [ 4 ]; ceramic has a smooth surface with a low coefficient of friction [ 5 ].…”

PEDOT coated microneedles towards electrochemically assisted skin sampling

“…There is a reported concern related to the corrosion of stainless steel in the human body which leads to metal dissolution and formation of metallic ions. 29 For example, Welles and Anh reported the corrosion activity of a CoCrMo metal alloy (used in hip implants) triggered by a potential as low as +0.67 V. 30 Furthermore, proteins in the body may induce the greater release of iron, chromium, nickel and manganese from stainless steel. 31 Therefore, this work investigates biocompatible, electroactive organic materials as a potentially safer, more effective alternative to the predecessor stainless steel MN.…”