Rockford researchers report the cycle of corrosion-infection that leads joint replacements to break down more quickly
Rockford researchers report the cycle of corrosion-infection that leads joint replacements to break down more quickly Heading link
Researchers at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford are coming closer to finding ways to keep joint replacements functioning longer. The researchers studied situations that may cause titanium implants for hip and other joint replacements to degrade and in what situations they degrade more quickly. The research, which was led by Mathew T. Mathew, PhD, the Cedric W. Blazer Professor of Biomedical Sciences at UICOMR and co-director of the Regenerative Medicine and Disabilities Laboratory, was published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering.
By simulating the body’s response to a metal joint replacement, the researchers determined that metal ions released from the implants during normal wear and tear can trigger inflammation in surrounding tissues. This inflammation, in turn, leads to increased corrosion. The resulting cellular uptake of metal debris creates infectious conditions, producing an acidic environment that contributes to further corrosion. This escalating corrosion, in turn, increases the risk of infection. This establishes a potential cycle of corrosion-infection, increasing the likelihood of implant failure under infection.
“This study provides a framework for future studies on how to limit infection-associated implant failure as well as studies on how to prevent implant corrosion,” says Dr. Mathew.
Also contributing to this study from UICOMR were Dr. Kai Yuan Cheng, Puranjay Gupta, Dr. Hemalatha Kanniyappan and Hamza Zahurullah, as well as Yani Sun and Mostafa Alhamad from other institutions. Dr. Mark Barba from OrthoIllinois, Rockford, contributed to the clinical aspects of this project.