In vivobiological response to highly cross‐linked and vitamin e‐doped polyethylene—a particle‐Induced osteolysis animal study

Abstract

Polyethylene particle-induced osteolysis is the primary limitation in the long-term success of total joint replacement with conventional ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) and vitamin E-doped cross-linked polyethylene (VE-HXLPE) have been developed to increase the wear resistance of joint surfaces. However, very few studies have reported on the incidence of particle-induced osteolysis for these novel materials. The aim of this study was to use a particle-induced osteolysis animal model to compare the in vivo biological response to different polymer particles. Three commercially available polymers (UHMWPE, HXLPE, and VE-HXLPE) were compared. Osseous properties including the bone volume relative to the tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb. Th), and bone mineral density (BMD) were examined using micro computed tomography. Histological analysis was used to observe tissue inflammation in each group. This study demonstrated that the osseous properties and noticeable inflammatory reactions were obviously decreased in the HXLPE group. When compared with the sham group, a decrease of 12.7% was found in BV/TV, 9.6% in BMD and 8.3% in Tb.Th for the HXLPE group. The heightened inflammatory response in the HXLPE group could be due to its smaller size and greater amount of implanted particles. Vitamin E diffused in vivo may not affect the inflammatory and osteolytic responses in this model. The morphological size and total cumulative amount of implanted particles could be critical factors in determining the biological response.

Impact of vitamin E-blended UHMWPE wear particles on the osseous microenvironment in polyethylene particle-induced osteolysis

“…In the present study, no significant differences in osteolysis were observed between the UHWMPE and VE-UHMWPE particle-treated mice, which is contradictory to the results reported by Bichara et al , who recently found a reduced osteolytic potential in VE-UHMWPE particle-treated mice compared to the controls (23). Another study on that topic published by Huang et al within this year also found similar signs of osteolysis between mice treated with vitamin E-containing particles and conventional UHMWPE wear particles (24). However, both studies investigated a murine calvaria model at a distinct time-point (10/14 days).…”

Effectiveness of Vitamin-E-Doped Polyethylene in Joint Replacement: A Literature Review

“…Using the same animal model a more recent study [ 48 ] investigated the biological response to participles debris of three commercially available UHMWPE: conventional UHMWPE, highly cross-linked UHMWPE (70 kGy) and VE-stabilized highly cross-linked UHMWPE (blended with 0.5% w/w, irradiated with a dose of 70 kGy). The same mass of wear debris (1 mg) was injected into the exposed calvaria area of animals.…”

Periprosthetic Osteolysis: Mechanisms, Prevention and Treatment

“…There is strong evidence for the critical role of chronic low-grade inflammation in the mechanism of PPOL [7][8][9]. The evidence comes from in vitro studies [10][11][12][13][14], in vivo experiments [15][16][17][18][19], and analysis of tissues harvested during reoperations [20][21][22][23]. It has been repeatedly demonstrated in vitro and in vivo that after contact between artificially prepared prosthetic byproducts and immune cells, the latter express pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and other substances ( Figure 1).…”