There is interest in minimally invasive solutions that reduce osteoarthritic symptoms and restore joint mobility in the early stages of cartilage degeneration or damage. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the Biolox®delta alumina-zirconia composite as a counterface for articulation against live cartilage in comparison to the clinically relevant CoCrMo alloy using a highly controlled in vitro ball-on-flat articulation bioreactor that has been shown to rank materials in accord with clinical experience. The four-station bioreactor was housed in an incubator. The dual axis concept of this simulator approximates the rolling-gliding kinematics of the joint. Twelve 32 mm alumina-zirconia composite femoral heads (Biolox®delta, CeramTec GmbH, Germany) and twelve 32 mm CoCrMo femoral heads (Peter Brehm GmbH, Germany) made up the testing groups. Each head articulated against a cartilage disk of 14 mm diam., harvested from six months old steers. Free-swelling control disks were obtained as well. Testing was conducted in Mini ITS medium for three hours daily over 10 days applying a load of 40 N (∼2 MPa). PG/GAG was determined using the dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assay. Hydroxyproline was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer. Additionally, at test conclusion, chondrocyte survival was determined using Live/Dead assay. Histological analysis was performed using a modified Mankin score. The effect of articulating material (ceramic, CoCrMo) on the various outputs of interest was evaluated using ANOVA. Blocking was performed with respect to the animals. The Mankin scores were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test.Introduction
Methods
Currently, there is a focus on the development of novel materials to articulate against cartilage. Such materials should either eliminate or delay the necessity of total joint replacement. While cobalt-chromium (CoCr) alloy is still a material of choice and used for hemi-arthroplasties, spacers, and repair plugs, alternative materials are being studied. Pyrolytic carbon (PyC) is a biocompatible material that has been available since the 1980s. It has been widely and successfully used in small joints of the foot and the hand, but its tribological effects in direct comparison to cobalt-chromium (CoCr) remain to be investigated. A four station simulator (Figure 1), mimicking joint load and motion, was used for testing. The simulator is housed in an incubator, which and provides the necessary environmental conditions for cartilage survival. Articular cartilage disks (14mm in diameter) were obtained from the trochleas of six to eight months old steer for testing and free-swelling controls. Disks (n=8 per material) were placed in porous polyethylene scaffolds within polypropylene cups and mounted onto the simulator to articulate against 28mm balls of either PyC or CoCr. Each ball was pressed onto the cartilage disk with 40N. In order to allow fluidal load support, the contact migrated over the biphasic cartilage with a 5.2 mm excursion. Concomitantly, the ball oscillated with ±30° at 1 Hz. Testing was conducted for three hours per day over 10 days in Mini ITS medium. Media samples were collected at the end of each three hour test. Upon test commencement, media was pooled (days 1, 4, 7, 10) and analyzed for proteoglycans/sGAGs and hydroxyproline. In addition, total material release into media was estimated by determining the dry weight increase of media samples. For this purpose, 1 ml aliquots of fresh and test media were dialyzed, lyophilized and weighed on a high precision balance. Disk morphology and cell viability were histologically examined.Introduction
Methods
