title: Human monocytes stimulation by particles of hydroxyapatite, silicon carbide and diamond: in vitro studies of new prosthesis coatings.
abstract: Aseptic loosening due to wear and debris formation constitutes the major problem in longevity of joint replacements. Diamond coated onto the prosthesis surface may reduce wear, owing to its excellent tribological properties. A thin diamond coating may be brittle, and we plan eventually to reinforce it with silicon carbide whiskers (SiC). In the present study we compared particles of diamond, SiC and hydroxyapatite (HA) in serum-free cultures of human monocytes. All particles were found to be phagocytozed, and monocyte morphology changed except after the ingestion of diamond. Interleukin-1 beta production was increased on average 30-fold and 38-fold in cultures exposed to HA and SiC, respectively, compared to control and diamond cultures (n = 6). Addition of the phagocytosis inhibitor cytochalasin B inhibited the morphological changes of the monocytes and reduced interleukin-1 beta production. In some experiments particles of polymethylmethacrylate were also included, and the interleukin-1 beta stimulation was in the same range as after HA and SiC stimulation. The results show that diamond particles in serum-free monocyte culture are inert, while SiC and HA have a stimulatory effect comparable to polymethylmethacrylate. With its excellent tribological and biocompatible properties, future studies with diamond coating are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Surgical Research, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nordsletten
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Høgåsen
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Konttinen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santavirta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aspenberg
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Aasen
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002244:Carbon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018130:Diamond / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017886:Durapatite / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008768:Methylmethacrylates / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D017655:Silicon Compounds; D002244:Carbon; D018130:Diamond; D017886:Durapatite; C022088:silicon carbide