Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Implants and Devices

A special issue of Journal of Functional Biomaterials (ISSN 2079-4983).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (27 August 2017) | Viewed by 33607

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Interests: orthopaedic implants; biomaterials; functionalisation; musculoskeletal scaffolds; 3D printing; tissue engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The great diversity of implant and device applications in orthopaedic practice has resulted in the use of a wide range of biomaterials in orthopaedic and musculoskeletal surgery. Historically, bone plates, screws and sutures were developed in the 19th and early 20th century, evolving to the use of biocompatible and biomechanically appropriate materials such as surgical steel and titanium. Joint implants similarly went through stepwise evolutionary processes, working through trial and error with unsuitable materials like ivory and Teflon, towards the present generation of clinically adopted biomaterials, such as cobalt chrome alloy, tantalum, polymethylmethacrylate, ceramics and bioceramics, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylenes. 

Despite widespread acceptance of currently used biomaterials in orthopaedic practice, orthopaedic implants and devices are still subject to complications such as poor implant integration leading to failure or loosening, as well as implant infection which leads to devastating morbidity. Most of the materials are biologically inert, and in most instances do not enhance integrative or regenerative processes at the host–implant interface, nor do they possess antimicrobial activities that protect against infections. Much recent interest has centred on functionalising orthopaedic biomaterials in ways that confer favourable bioactivities for implant success and longevity. Newer approaches to address orthopaedic conditions in musculoskeletal tissues such as bone, cartilage, meniscus, tendons and ligaments include creation of scaffold or matrix implants to allow for cellular integration and tissue regeneration, including strategies to enhance biological interactions. This Special Issue will consider and highlight recent and potential developments in the arena of orthopaedic biomaterial, implant and devices technology that adopt such functional strategies towards addressing healthcare needs and outcomes.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wilson Wang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Orthopaedic implant
  • Joint reconstruction
  • Fracture fixation
  • Biomaterial functionalisation
  • Musculoskeletal scaffold
  • Biocompatibility
  • Tissue regeneration

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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Article
In Vitro Findings of Titanium Functionalized with Estradiol via Polydopamine Adlayer
by Chris Steffi, Zhilong Shi, Chee Hoe Kong and Wilson Wang
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040045 - 28 Sep 2017
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6285
Abstract
To improve orthopedic implant fixation and reduce post-operative complications, osteogenic molecules are delivered locally by immobilizing them on the surface of implants, which will modulate the biology of cell attachment and differentiation on the implant surface. Estradiol, a natural steroid hormone, maintains bone [...] Read more.
To improve orthopedic implant fixation and reduce post-operative complications, osteogenic molecules are delivered locally by immobilizing them on the surface of implants, which will modulate the biology of cell attachment and differentiation on the implant surface. Estradiol, a natural steroid hormone, maintains bone metabolism by decreasing bone resorption. It either directly or indirectly affects osteoclasts. In this work, estradiol was immobilized on a titanium surface by polydopamine adlayer. Immobilization of estradiol was confirmed by X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS), immunofluorescence staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Estradiol-modified substrates enhanced alkaline phosphatases activity (ALP) and calcium deposition of osteoblasts. However, these substrates did not decrease tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and actin ring formation of the osteoclast. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of estradiol-modified substrates showed the formation of estradiol crystals, which decreased the potency of immobilized estradiol. Despite having a successful immobilization of estradiol via the polydopamine technique, the bioavailability and potency of coated estradiol is reduced due to crystallization, suggesting that this is not a suitable system for localized estradiol delivery as tested in vitro here. Consequently, other suitable platforms have to be explored for immobilizing estradiol that will prevent crystal formation while preserving the biological activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Implants and Devices)
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Article
Suitability of EGCG as a Means of Stabilizing a Porcine Osteochondral Xenograft
by Steven Elder, John Clune, Jaylyn Walker and Paul Gloth
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040043 - 23 Sep 2017
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 7193
Abstract
As a non-crosslinked osteochondral xenograft would be mechanically inferior to native cartilage and vulnerable to premature degradation, we seek a safe and effective method of xenograft stabilization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capacity for epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to stabilize [...] Read more.
As a non-crosslinked osteochondral xenograft would be mechanically inferior to native cartilage and vulnerable to premature degradation, we seek a safe and effective method of xenograft stabilization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capacity for epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) to stabilize a decellularized porcine osteochondral xenograft through collagen crosslinking. Our objectives were to assess the effects of EGCG on the degree of crosslinking, mechanical properties, collagenase resistance, cytotoxicity, and in vitro biocompatibility. EGCG is a green tea polyphenol that acts as a collagen crosslinker. Porcine osteochondral plugs were decellularized and then crosslinked by soaking in EGCG. The degree of crosslinking, cartilage compressive stiffness, cartilage-bone interface strength, coefficient of friction, and residual mass after collagenase exposure all increased with an increasing EGCG concentration. With the exception of the coefficient of friction, EGCG treatment could restore mechanical properties to levels equal to, or exceeding those, of native cartilage. EGCG treatment profoundly increased the enzymatic resistance, and 1% EGCG provided protection equivalent to 1% glutaraldehyde. EGCG up to 0.5 mM was essentially not cytotoxic to chondrocytes embedded in alginate, and autologous chondrocytes attached to decellularized, EGCG-fixed cartilage were all viable five days after seeding. Results demonstrate that EGCG has many beneficial effects on a decellularized osteochondral xenograft, and may be suitable for use in stabilizing such a graft prior to implantation for the repair of a defect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Implants and Devices)
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Review

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Review
The Effect of RANKL/OPG Balance on Reducing Implant Complications
by Elizabeth R. Kapasa, Peter V. Giannoudis, Xiaodong Jia, Paul V. Hatton and Xuebin B. Yang
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(4), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8040042 - 22 Sep 2017
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 11461
Abstract
Despite the phenomenal success of implants particularly in the realms of dentistry and orthopaedics, there are still challenges to overcome. The failure of implants resulting from infection, prosthetic loosening, and non-union continue to be the most notorious examples. The cascade of fracture healing [...] Read more.
Despite the phenomenal success of implants particularly in the realms of dentistry and orthopaedics, there are still challenges to overcome. The failure of implants resulting from infection, prosthetic loosening, and non-union continue to be the most notorious examples. The cascade of fracture healing and bone repair, especially with the presence of an implant, is complex because it involves a multifaceted immune response alongside the intricate process of bone formation and remodelling. Bone loss is a serious clinical problem that is frequently accompanied by chronic inflammation, illustrating that there is a convoluted relationship between inflammation and bone erosion. The effects of pro-inflammatory factors play a significant role in initiating and maintaining osteoclastogenesis that results in bone resorption by osteoclasts. This is because there is a disruption of the relative ratio between Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κB-Ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), which is central to modulating bone repair and remodelling. This review aims to provide a background to the bone remodelling process, the bone repair cascade post-implantation, and the associated complications. Furthermore, current clinical solutions that can influence bone formation via either internal or extrinsic mechanisms will be described. These efficacious treatments for osteolysis via targeting the RANKL/OPG ratio may be crucial to reducing the incidence of related implant failures in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Implants and Devices)
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Review
Immunological Responses to Total Hip Arthroplasty
by Kenny Man, Lin-Hua Jiang, Richard Foster and Xuebin B Yang
J. Funct. Biomater. 2017, 8(3), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb8030033 - 1 Aug 2017
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 8075
Abstract
The use of total hip arthroplasties (THA) has been continuously rising to meet the demands of the increasingly ageing population. To date, this procedure has been highly successful in relieving pain and restoring the functionality of patients’ joints, and has significantly improved their [...] Read more.
The use of total hip arthroplasties (THA) has been continuously rising to meet the demands of the increasingly ageing population. To date, this procedure has been highly successful in relieving pain and restoring the functionality of patients’ joints, and has significantly improved their quality of life. However, these implants are expected to eventually fail after 15–25 years in situ due to slow progressive inflammatory responses at the bone-implant interface. Such inflammatory responses are primarily mediated by immune cells such as macrophages, triggered by implant wear particles. As a result, aseptic loosening is the main cause for revision surgery over the mid and long-term and is responsible for more than 70% of hip revisions. In some patients with a metal-on-metal (MoM) implant, metallic implant wear particles can give rise to metal sensitivity. Therefore, engineering biomaterials, which are immunologically inert or support the healing process, require an in-depth understanding of the host inflammatory and wound-healing response to implanted materials. This review discusses the immunological response initiated by biomaterials extensively used in THA, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), cobalt chromium (CoCr), and alumina ceramics. The biological responses of these biomaterials in bulk and particulate forms are also discussed. In conclusion, the immunological responses to bulk and particulate biomaterials vary greatly depending on the implant material types, the size of particulate and its volume, and where the response to bulk forms of differing biomaterials are relatively acute and similar, while wear particles can initiate a variety of responses such as osteolysis, metal sensitivity, and so on. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Orthopaedic Biomaterials, Implants and Devices)
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