Vitamin E Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin E, including details on benefits, dosage, supplements, antioxidants.

UHMWPE and vitamin E bioactivity: an emerging perspective.

Renò F, Cannas M

Human Anatomy Laboratory, Research Center for Biocompatibility, Clinical and Experimental Medicine Department, University of Eastern Piedmont A. Avogadro, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy.

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a semicrystalline biomaterial widely used in the components for articular prosthesis for its excellent mechanical qualities. Two major problems limit the UHMWPE prosthesis life-wearing and delamination, both phenomena being mainly due to chemical oxidation of polymer. Wearing causes the release of generated particulate that triggers a macrophage reaction leading to chronic inflammation and osteolysis, while delamination, due to the mechanical stress, macroscopically alters the surfaces. The most diffused method to reduce wearing is UHMWPE molecular cross-linking by high-energy irradiation followed by melting that also reduces polymer fatigue strength. For this reason, the use of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), as an anti-oxidative and biocompatible additive for normal and cross-linked UHMWPE, has been suggested as an alternative method to improve polymer wearing resistance without altering its mechanical strength. This paper describes briefly the rationale of vitamin E as UHMWPE additive and its possible use as an emerging perspective in the orthopaedic field.

Published 20 February 2006 in Biomaterials, 27(16): 3039-43.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Vitamin E Research Today. All Rights Reserved.