Binding of proteins to ultra high molecular weight polyethylene wear particles as a possible mechanism of macrophage and lymphocyte activation

Abstract

Binding of 5 human plasma proteins to ultra high molecular weight polyethylene wear particles isolated from hip periprosthetic tissues was studied in vitro. The binding was of clearly hydrophobic nature.

This could be a machanism by which polyethylene wear particles trigger macrophages and lymphocytes aktivity and thence initiate aseptic inflammation and cause the failure of total joint replacements.

Keywords

• In-vitro
• periprosthetic tissues
• size
• arthroplasty
• debris
• quantification
• osteolysis
• challenge
• ultra high molecular weight polyethylene