Preparation, characterization, and feasibility study of Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS/UHMWPE composites as an artificial joint component with enhanced hardness, impact strength, tribological and biological performance

In order to solve the problem of aseptic loosening of artificial joints resulting from the wear particles of artificial joint components in total joint replacement (TJR), we synthesized a new kind of metalo-organic particle (Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS) using spark plasma sintering (SPS) as a filler to enhance the comprehensive performance of UHMWPE. Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS was interfused evenly with UHMWPE particles and cured in a hot press instrument to prepare Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS/UHMWPE composites. FTIR and SEM were carried out to characterize Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS particles. EDS was carried out to characterize Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS/UHMWPE. The micro-structure, hardness, impact strength, tribology and bio-activities of Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS/UHMWPE composite materials were also investigated. The results confirmed the effectiveness of this method. The hardness, impact strength, and tribology of the composites were enhanced by adding homodispersed Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS particles into UHMWPE. In the meantime, Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS/UHMWPE composites could significantly promote the growth of osteoblasts due to the bio-activity of Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS. Furthermore, the addition of Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS particle-fillers into UHMWPE could promote the secretion of OPG from osteoblasts and inhibit the secretion of RANKL from osteoblasts, and thus increase the OPG/RANKL ratio. All the results above showed that Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS/UHMWPE composites with appropriate Sr/Zn-doped CPP/GNS content possessed superior physicochemical performances and bio-properties, and could be considered as promising materials to treat aseptic loosening in total joint replacement.