Ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene with improved crosslink density, oxidation stability, and microbial inhibition by chemical crosslinking and tea polyphenols for total joint replacements. Issue 43 (16th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shah, Nouman Ali; Ren, Yue; Lan, Ri‐Tong; Lv, Jia‐Cheng; Gul, Rizwan M.; Tan, Peng‐Fei; Huang, Shishu; Tan, Lin; Xu, Jia‐Zhuang; Li, Zhong‐Ming
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied polymer science. Volume 138:Issue 43(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-06-16
• Subjects: antibacterial property -- artificial joints -- oxidation stability -- peroxide crosslinking -- UHMWPE; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/app.51261
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8995

Abstract

Abstract: Highly crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) stabilized by vitamin E (VE) is widely applied in artificial joints as the bearings. Despite the approval, there is a discord that VE lowers the crosslinking efficiency, limiting its use at high concentration. In this work, we aim to obtain highly crosslinked and oxidation resistant UHMWPE through the conjunction of tea polyphenol and chemical crosslinking. We hypothesized that highly incorporated tea polyphenol with multiple reactive sites can ameliorate crosslinking efficiency of chemical crosslinked UHMWPE in comparison to VE. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) as representative tea polyphenol was incorporated into UHMWPE at high concentration (2–8 wt%), followed by chemical crosslinking with 2 wt% organic peroxide. Unlike VE/UHMWPE blends as the control, chemical crosslinking achieved an increasing trend in crosslink density of EGCG/UHMWPE blends with increasing antioxidant concentration. High concentration of EGCG also enhanced the oxidation stability of UHMWPE. Intriguingly, EGCG endowed UHMWPE with an excellent antimicrobial property, which was inefficient in VE/UHMWPE. Cell viability was hardly affected by the high loaded antioxidant and peroxide. The chemically crosslinked UHMWPE blended with EGCG is proved to be a reasonable, cost effective and realistic alternative for use in artificial joints. Abstract : Peroxide crosslinking of EGCG‐blended UHMWPE offers a feasible alternative to fabricate functional UHMWPE total joint implants with a prolonged lifespan. Compared to Vitamin E, addition of EGCG in the presence of peroxide led to a highly crosslinked and antioxidative UHMWPE material with good antimicrobial property and biocompatibility.