During their service life, most biomaterials and medical implants are vulnerable to tribological damage. In addition, the environments in which they are placed are often corrosive. The combination of triobology, corrosion and the biological environment has been named 'bio-tribocorrosion'. Understanding this complex phenomenon is critical to improving the design and service life of medical implants. This important book reviews recent key research in this area.After an introduction to the topography of bio-tribocorrosion, Part one discusses different types of tribocorrosion including fatigue-corrosion, fretting-corrosion, wear-corrosion and abrasion-corrosion. The book also discusses the prediction of wear in medical devices. Part two looks at biological effects on tribocorrosion processes, including how proteins interact with material surfaces and the evolution of surface changes due to bio-tribocorrosion resulting from biofilms and passive films. Part three reviews the issue of bio-tribocorrosion in clinical practice, including dental applications and joint replacement as well the use of coatings and test methods for bio-tribocorrosion.With its international team of contributors, Bio-tribocorrosion in biomaterials and medical implants is a standard reference for those researching and developing medical devices as well as clinicians in such areas as dentistry and orthopaedic surgery. - Reviews recent research in bio-tribocorrosion and its role in improving the design and service life of medical implants - Discusses types of bio-tribocorrosion including fatigue and wear corrosion - Examines biological effects on bio-tribocorrosion processes including interaction of proteins with metal surfaces

The tribological performance of implant materials within the body where the pH can vary between 7.4 and 4.0, depending on whether the joint is infected or not, is extremely harsh and varies significantly from that experienced in other engineering environments. Three wear mechanisms that affect biomedical and, in particular, orthopaedic implants are regularly reported. These are adhesion, abrasion and fatigue. The wear mechanisms in biomedical implants, particularly hip joints, are reported to be a function of the following variables: type of materials used, contact stresses, lubricants and clearance, surface hardness and roughness, type of articulation due to motion, number of cycles, solution particle count and distribution, and tribocorrosion.

Wear can be defined as a process where interaction between two surfaces or bounding faces of solids within the working environment results in dimensional loss of one solid, with or without any actual decoupling and loss of material. Wear may accelerate corrosion that involves chemical or electrochemical reactions between materials. Both these phenomena fall under the broader category of tribocorrosion. The interactions of mechanical loading and chemical/electrochemical reactions that occur between the elements of a tribological system exposed to biological environments constitute bio-tribocorrosion science.

This chapter discusses synergistic damage mechanisms of modular implants due to mechanical stimulus and electrochemical dissolution. The influences of contact loads, plastic deformation, residual stresses, and environmental conditions are focused to illustrate mechanisms of damage and dissolution. Fretting corrosion is the most prevalent phenomenon that degrades the mechanical and chemical properties of implant materials. It has been explained as an alternating process of fracture and unstable growth of metal oxide film during fatigue contact motion in the corrosive environment. Stress-dependent electrochemical dissolution has also been identified as one of the key mechanisms governing surface degradation in fatigue contact and crevice corrosion of biomedical implants. This damage mechanism incorporates contact-induced residual stress development and stress-assisted dissolution. Understanding of the corrosion damage mechanism of metallic implants is very important in predicting the useful life of implants and optimizing the design of orthopedic implants.

Two materials (one being metal) under slight relative motion in a liquid medium are subjected to fretting corrosion. This chapter is dedicated to studying fretting corrosion of implants. After describing the most significant implants subjected to fretting, fretting corrosion is defined. Fretting corrosion is a particular degradation mechanism; it highlights the key role of passive film, crevice corrosion, etc. For demonstrating the electrochemical effect of the fretting corrosion of metal, some investigations are presented at free corrosion potential and at applied potential to measure the specific current density. Moreover, the role of proteins is investigated because they constitute the biological environment and thus play a significant role in fretting corrosion processes. Finally, results from atomic force microscopy (AFM) show the particular debris, size about 100nm. The problem of debris influence is discussed.

In the oral cavity, materials (including our natural teeth) are exposed to a complex environment, which results in simultaneous mechanical, electrochemical, and microbiological solicitations. Therefore, bio-tribocorrosion is an important cause of degradation of dental materials leading to functional and/or biological detrimental effects due to an increased release of metallic ions and wear debris. This chapter describes the main bio-tribocorrosion phenomena that occur in the oral environment, and discuss the main parameters related to both the materials and the environment affecting bio-tribocorrosion in dental applications.

The influence of protein adsorption on the corrosion behavior of surgical metallic biomaterials is presented in this chapter. The protein structure and the metal ion binding phenomenon are described as the first steps in establishing the degradation mechanisms of biomaterials in body fluids. In addition, the main corrosion mechanisms and the effect of proteins on their thermodynamic and kinetic properties are also considered. Finally, experimental electrochemical techniques used for studying the role of proteins in the degradation mechanisms of implants are analyzed. Future challenges in this field are discussed at the end of the chapter.

Total joint replacement (TJR), or joint arthroplasty, is a widely used surgical procedure in which the entire joint is removed and replaced with a prosthetic joint. The most common types of TJR are total hip replacement (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR). The improvement and development of safer, longer lasting and better functioning implants are essential. Recent reports of potential problems caused by ion release in metal-on-metal (MoM) TJRs resulting in the formation of pseudo-tumours therefore need to be properly investigated. This chapter provides an overview of the evolution of TJR, followed by a review of the issues and the science around ion release. The potential corrosion issues and bio-tribocorrosion processes which prevail in TJRs, including orthopaedic implant materials, load-bearing joint replacement materials tribocorrosion, and protein adsorption, are also discussed.

This is the first text that deals specifically with TMJ TJR. Each chapter is authored by either a basic science researcher or clinician known for their interest and expertise in this field. The text provides the reader with state-of-the-art analysis of all aspects of total temporomandibular joint replacement (TMJ TJR), starting with cutting-edge evidence on the biomechanics of the TMJ. The intriguing history of TMJ TJR is presented to provide an understanding of why some prior TMJ TJR devices failed and how what was learned from those failures has led to the improvements exhibited in present TMJ TJR devices. Expert chapters discuss both stock and custom designs, their indications and contraindications, primary operative techniques, combined TMJ TJR and orthognathic surgical techniques, and the devices' adaption for use as segmental or total mandibular replacement devices after ablative surgery. Clinical outcomes and avoidance as well as management of complications are detailed. Numerous helpful illustrations and radiographs are presented to assist readers in understanding and carrying out the described procedures. Important evidence from both the orthopedic and TMJ TJR literature relating to material sensitivity and mechanical wear will be reported. Finally, the role bioengineered tissue may hold for the future of TMJ TJR will be discussed.

Nanostructured Biomaterials for Cranio-maxillofacial and Oral Applications examines the combined impact of materials science, biomedical and chemical engineering, and biology to provide enhanced biomaterials for applications in maxillo-facial rehabilitation and implantology. With a strong focus on a variety of material classes, it examines material processing and characterization techniques to decrease mechanical and biological failure in the human body. After an introduction to the field, the most commonly used materials for cranio-facial applications, including ceramics, polymers and glass ceramics are presented. The book then looks at nanostructured surfaces, functionally graded biomaterials and the manufacturing of nanostructured materials via 3-D printing. This book is a valuable resource for scientists, researchers and clinicians wishing to broaden their knowledge in this important and developing field. - Explores the techniques used to apply nanotechnology to biomaterials for cranio-maxillofacial and oral applications - Bridges the gap between fundamental materials science and medicine - Shows how nanostructured biomaterials respond when implanted in the human body