ISOLATION OF PREDOMINANTLY SUBMICRON-SIZED UHMWPE WEAR PARTICLES FROMPERIPROSTHETIC TISSUES

A method of tissue digestion using sodium hydroxide was applied to the isolation and recovery of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (U HMWPE) particles from tissues around failed total hip replacements. De nsity gradient ultracentrifugation of the digested tissues was perform ed to separate the UHMWPE from cell debris and other particulates. Fou rier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorim etry (DSC) verified that the recovered particles were UHMWPE. When vie wed by scanning electron microscopy, individual particles were clearly observed and were either rounded or elongated. The majority were subm icron in size. The application of this method to the study of particle s from periprosthetic tissues may elucidate aspects of biomaterial par ticle size and shape that are important to the biologic response to, a nd clinical outcome of, total joint replacement. (C) 1995 John Wiley a nd Sons, Inc.