MORF Method for Assessment of the Size and Shape of UHMWPE Wear Microparticles and Nanoparticles in Periprosthetic Tissues
Abstract
Aseptic loosening of total joint replacement (TJR) due to wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is regarded as one of the major problems in the field of arthroplasty. This work describes a newly developed method, called MORF, which completely describes the morphology of UHMWPE wear particles.
The differences in wear particle morphology may help to elucidate individual differences in TJR failures. The authors have developed a new method which yields a complete description of the size and shape of UHMWPE wear particles in periprosthetic tissues.
The method is quite universal and therefore can be used not only for analyses of wear particles, but also for other types of particles, such as microparticles in polymer blends or inorganic/metallic nanoparticles.