The surface of high-pressure crystallized ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was modified for application as an artificial cartilage material. A UHMWPE surface pretreated by a series of processes, including treatment with O2-plasma and ethylenediamine solution, was coated with hyaluronic acid (HA). After that, adipic acid dihydrazide (AAD) was added to partially crosslink the HA coating in order to enhance its durability. The modified samples were verified by water contact angle measurement and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Both HA layers, original and crosslinked, were also quantitatively evaluated by carbohydrate chemistry assay according to the absorbance of the incident light. The tribological performance of the samples was evaluated by a pin-on-disk test rig lubricated by normal saline under an average pressure of 18 MPa and at a sliding speed of 0.03 m/s for 45 h. The wear resistance of the HA-coated UHMWPE specimens promoted by the crosslink process was superior to that of the original HA-coated sample, and that resistance was maintained after immersion in saline solution for one month.
Comment on “Efficacy of a single intra-articular injection of ultra-high molecular weight hyaluronic acid for hip osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled study”
