The Effects of Adding Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) on the Mechanical Properties and Biocompatibility of The Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Polymer Matrix (UHMWPE) in Joint Replacements

Subject Areas : Journal of Animal Biology

Mohsen  Fakoori ¹ (Department of Nanotechnology and Advance Materials, Biomaterials Research Group, Materials and Energy Research Center, Tehran, Iran|Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Mohammad Taghi  khorassani ² (Department of Biomaterials, Faculty of Polymer Science, Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, Iran)
Mehdi kamali  dolat abadi ³ (Department of Textile, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)

Received: 2022-12-10 Accepted : 2022-12-24 Published : 2023-08-23

Keywords: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes, Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene, UHMWPE/MWCNT Composite, Joint Replacement,

Abstract :

Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been used as the material of choice in joint replacement prosthesis as an articular component for several years. Despite its distinct physical and chemical characteristics, the lifespan of this polymer is limited. One approach to increase the lifespan and mechanical properties is the use of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Multi-walled carbon nanotubes are promising candidates for use as a filler phase in polymers due to their excellent mechanical properties and excellent surface-to-volume ratio. In this research, the addition of 0.1% by weight of multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with carboxyl groups was investigated on the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of the UHMWPE base matrix and its comparison with the pure UHMWPE sample. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the presence of characteristic peaks of UHMWPE and carbon nanoparticle in the matrix. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed an increase in the intensity of the characteristic peaks of the composite compared to the pure sample. The differential scanning calorimetry test (DSC) showed an increase of about 10% in the crystallinity of the composite containing carbon nanotubes (PE/MWCNT). The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) showed an increase of about 22% in the storage modulus compared to the control sample, and finally, the cell viability through the cell culture test in the PE/MWCNT composite showed a 15 % increase in cell viability. According to mechanical and biocompatibility results, the composite sample can perform better in terms of mechanical loads in bearing surfaces compared to pure UHMWPE.

References:

1. Agrawal, G., Negi, Y.S., Pradhan, S., Dash, M., Samal, S.K., 2017. Wettability and contact angle of polymeric biomaterials. In Characterization of Polymeric Biomaterials. Woodhead Publishing, pp. 57-81.


2. Aguiar V.O., Maru M.M., Soares I.T., Kapps V., Almeida C.M., Perez G., Archanjo B.S., Pita V.J., Marques M.D.F.V. 2022. Effect of incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotube and graphene in UHMWPE matrix on the enhancement of thermal and mechanical properties. Journal of Materials Science, 57:21104-21116.


3. American Society for Testing and Materials. 2004. Standard Specification for Ultra-high-molecular Weight Polyethylene Powder and Fabricated Form for Surgical Implants. ASTM International.


4. Andjelić S, Richard RE. 2001. Crystallization behavior of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene as a function of in vacuo γ-irradiation. Macromolecules, 34(4):896-906.


5. Aoki K., Saito N. 2020. Biocompatibility and carcinogenicity of carbon nanotubes as biomaterials. Nanomaterials, 10(2):264.


6. Bin Ali A., Mohammed A.S., Merah N. 2018. Tribological investigations of UHMWPE nanocomposites reinforced with three different organo‐modified clays. Polymer Composites, 39(7):2224-2231.


7. Camacho N., Carmona J.M.G., Arbeláez D.E., Mondragón G.C., Stafford S. 2020. UHMWPE in total knee arthroplasty: successes and failures. Revista Colombiana de Materiales, 16:3-28.

8. Chhetri S., Bougherara H. 2021. A comprehensive review on surface modification of UHMWPE fiber and interfacial properties. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 140:106146.


9. Da Silva B.C., dos Santos C.M., de Oliveira Couto C.A., Backes E.H., Passador F.R. 2019. February. Evaluation of Aging Resistance in UHMWPE/LLDPE Blend‐Based Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposites. In Macromolecular Symposia, 383(1):1700079.


10. Drakopoulos S.X., Psarras G.C., Forte G., Martin-Fabiani I., Ronca S. 2018. Entanglement dynamics in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene as revealed bydielectric spectroscopy. Polymer, 150:35-43.


11. Hiremath, N., Mays, J. , Bhat G. 2017. Recent developments in carbon fibers and carbon nanotube-based fibers: a review. Polymer Reviews, 57(2):339-368.


12. Hussain M., Naqvi R.A., Abbas N., Khan S.M., Nawaz S., Hussain A., Zahra N., Khalid M.W. 2020. Ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene (UHMWPE) as a promising polymer material for biomedical applications: a concise review. Polymers, 12(2):323.


13. Jana A., Selvaraj S., Subramani K., 2021. A novel technique for the development of acetabular cup by cold isostatic compaction and sintering of UHMWPE powder with optimized processing parameters. Polymer Engineering and Science, 61(10):2536-2556.


14. Kumar P.S., Reddy K.S.N., Unnikrishnan D., Balachandran M. 2019. Performance Enhancement of UHMWPE with Surface Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Graphite. Structural Integrity Assessment: Proceedings of ICONS 2018:231.


15. Lambert B., Neut D., van der Veen H.C., Bulstra S.K. 2019. Effects of vitamin E incorporation in polyethylene on oxidative degradation, wear rates, immune response, and infections in total joint arthroplasty: a review of the current literature. International Orthopaedics, 43(7):1549-1557.


16. Måge I., Böcker U., Wubshet S.G., Lindberg D., Afseth N.K. 2021. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) fingerprinting for quality assessment of protein hydrolysates. Lwt, 152:112339.


17. Mamidi N., Gamero M.R.M., Castrejón J.V., Zúníga A.E. 2019. Development of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene-functionalized carbon nano-onions composites for biomedical applications. Diamond and Related Materials, 97:107435.


18. Melk L., Emami N. 2018. Mechanical and thermal performances of UHMWPE blended vitamin E reinforced carbon nanoparticle composites. Composites Part B: Engineering, 146:20-27.


19. Meschi Amoli B., Ramazani S.A., Izadi H. 2012. Preparation of ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene/carbon nanotube nanocomposites with a Ziegler–Natta catalytic system and investigation of their thermal and mechanical properties. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 125(S1):E453-461.


20. Omprakash P., Kuruveri U.B., Panemangalore D.B. 2021. Carbon and Metallic-based Nanomaterials for Strain Sensors-A Review. Current Nanomaterials, 6(3):172-184.


21. Paladugu S.R.M., PS R.S. 2022. Mechanical and wear performances of UHMWPE composites used for orthopaedic applications–A review. Materials Today: Proceedings, 56:1103-1108.


22. Pang W., Ni Z., Chen G., Huang G., Huang H., Zhao Y. 2015. Mechanical and thermal properties of graphene oxide/ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene nanocomposites. Rsc Advances, 5(77):63063-63072.


23. Parkatzidis K., Wang H.S., Truong N.P., Anastasaki A. 2020. Recent developments and future challenges in controlled radical polymerization: a 2020 update. Chemistry, 6(7):1575-1588.

24. Rahman M.M., Biswas M.A.S., Hoque K.N. 2022. Recent development on micro-texturing of UHMWPE surfaces for orthopedic bearings: A review. Biotribology, 31(1):100216.


25. Reddy S.K., Kumar S., Varadarajan K.M., Marpu P.R., Gupta T.K., Choosri M., 2018. Strain and damage-sensing performance of biocompatible smart CNT/UHMWPEnanocomposites. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 92:957-968.


26. Ruan SL, Gao P, Yang XG, Yu TX. Toughening high performance ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene using multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Polymer. 2003 Sep 1;44(19):5643-54.


27. Said A., 2021. Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethylene (UHMWPE) as Desired Polymer Material for Biomedical. Khalij-Libya Journal of Dental and Medical Research, 2021:11-16.


28. Sarath Kumar P., Sai Narendra Reddy K., Unnikrishnan D., Balachandran M. 2020. Performance Enhancement of UHMWPE with Surface Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Graphite. In Structural Integrity Assessment(pp. 231-240). Springer, Singapore.


29. Sobajima A., Okihara T., Moriyama S., Nishimura N., Osawa T., Miyamae K., Haniu H., Aoki K., Tanaka M., Usui Y., Sako K.I. 2020. Multiwall carbon nanotube composites as artificial joint materials. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 6(12):7032-7040.


30. Sreekanth P.R., Kanagaraj S. 2013. Assessment of bulk and surface properties of medical grade UHMWPE based nanocomposites using Nanoindentation and microtensile testing. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 18:140-51.


31. Suñer S., Gowland N., Craven R., Joffe R., Emami, N., Tipper, J.L., 2018. Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/graphene oxide nanocomposites: Wear characterization and biological response to wear particles. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, 106(1):183-190.


32. Standard A.S.T.M. 1996. Standard Practice for Preparation of Compression-Molded Polyethylene Test Sheets and Test Specimens. ASTM International.


33. Suresha B., Harshavardhan B., Rao A.M., Koushik U.R., Hemanth R. 2020. Role of nano-fillers on tribological behaviour of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene composites. Materials Today: Proceedings, 27:2169-2173.


34. Zavala J.M.D., Gutiérrez H.M.L., Segura-Cárdenas E., Mamidi N., Morales-Avalos R., Villela-Castrejón J., Elías-Zúñiga A. 2021. Manufacture and mechanical properties of knee implants using SWCNTs/UHMWPE composites. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 120:104554.


35. Zexiong W., Anqi L., Zishou Z., Kancheng M. 2021. Crystallization of UHMWPE nanocomposites filled by multi-wall carbon nanotubes. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 146(5):2223-2232.


36. Zhang K., Peng X., Cheng C., Zhao Y., Yu X. 2021. Preparation, characterization, and feasibility study of Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS/UHMWPE composites as an artificial joint component with enhanced hardness, impact strength, tribological and biological performance. RSC Advances, 11(36): 21991-21999.