This chapter traces the scientific foundation for the acceptance of vitamin-E-blended UHMWPE biomaterials and summarizes the development of ideas that led to the commercialization of vitamin-E-blended UHMWPE for use in orthopedics. UHMWPE blended with vitamin E has emerged as a new biomaterial for use in orthopedic implants. Vitamin E stabilization applies especially to the UHMW-PE used in artificial hip, shoulder or knee joints. Vitamin-E-blended UHMWPE is internationally recognized and commercially released as a new international standard for orthopedic implants. But, the primary drawback of vitamin-E-blended UHMWPE is considered to be increased resistance of the material to subsequent radiation crosslinking, which depends on the method of irradiation as well as the concentration level of antioxidant. Vitamin E stabilization of polyolefins is widely known for food packaging, and its use in UHMWPE implants is anticipated in patent filings. Active commercialization of vitamin E is done in UHMWPE, both by consolidators and by medical device companies. Vitamin E is considered an attractive substitute for other hindered phenolic antioxidants used in polyolefin food packaging, such as BHT. The drawback of BHT and other hindered phenols was that oxidation products could leach into packaged food, causing an undesirable aftertaste. © 2009 Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Vitamin-e-Blended UHMWPE Biomaterials
Bracco P.;Costa L.
2009-01-01
Abstract
This chapter traces the scientific foundation for the acceptance of vitamin-E-blended UHMWPE biomaterials and summarizes the development of ideas that led to the commercialization of vitamin-E-blended UHMWPE for use in orthopedics. UHMWPE blended with vitamin E has emerged as a new biomaterial for use in orthopedic implants. Vitamin E stabilization applies especially to the UHMW-PE used in artificial hip, shoulder or knee joints. Vitamin-E-blended UHMWPE is internationally recognized and commercially released as a new international standard for orthopedic implants. But, the primary drawback of vitamin-E-blended UHMWPE is considered to be increased resistance of the material to subsequent radiation crosslinking, which depends on the method of irradiation as well as the concentration level of antioxidant. Vitamin E stabilization of polyolefins is widely known for food packaging, and its use in UHMWPE implants is anticipated in patent filings. Active commercialization of vitamin E is done in UHMWPE, both by consolidators and by medical device companies. Vitamin E is considered an attractive substitute for other hindered phenolic antioxidants used in polyolefin food packaging, such as BHT. The drawback of BHT and other hindered phenols was that oxidation products could leach into packaged food, causing an undesirable aftertaste. © 2009 Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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