CORR Insights^®: Spectroscopic and Chromatographic Quantification of an Antioxidant-stabilized Ultrahigh-molecular-weight Polyethylene

Excerpt

Current implant technology primarily uses radiation-sterilized, pure ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). This material, while more resistant to particle formation, in time, can still suffer from oxidation, leading to important changes in its material properties and potentially leading to increased wear and early failure. Oral and colleagues [1] documented a major improvement in oxidative resistance arising from blending vitamin E with the powder prior to polymerization. This approach increases oxidative resistance, but it can affect material properties depending on dose and synthesis technique. Biomet (Warsaw, IN, USA) was the first to market implants using vitamin E in the United States. The antioxidants, however, create a tradeoff with crosslink density that has to be compensated for with increased radiation dose, which can affect the immediate wear properties. The use of antioxidants, if safe, is likely to benefit patients through increased lifespan of their implant components by preventing oxidation. Given the relative success of vitamin E, few other antioxidants have been evaluated for their effect on UHMWPE. …