Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2024 Aug 13;35(1):47. doi: 10.1007/s10856-024-06814-x.
Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) has been used as a coating material of choice for a variety of technological applications owing to its favorable bio-tribo-thermo-mechanical characteristics. Here, the possibility of bringing DLC into orthopedic joint implants is examined. With ever increasing number of patients suffering from osteoarthritis as well as with the ingress of the osteoarthritic joints' malaise into younger and more active demographics, there is a pressing need to augment the performance and integrity of conventional total joint replacements (TJRs). Contemporary joint replacement devices use metal-on-polymer articulations to restore function to worn, damaged or diseased cartilage. The wear of polymeric components has been addressed using crosslinking and antioxidants; however, in the context of the metallic components, complications pertaining to corrosion and metal ion release inside the body still persist. Through this review article, we explore the use of DLC coatings on metallic bearing surfaces and elucidate why this technology might be a viable solution for ongoing electrochemical challenges in orthopedics. The different characteristics of DLC coatings and their feasibility in TJRs are examined through assessment of tribo-material characterization methods. A holistic characterization of the coating-substrate interface and the wear performance of such systems are discussed. As with all biomaterials used in TJRs, we need mindful consideration of potential in-vivo challenges. We present a few caveats for DLC coatings including delamination, hydrophobicity, and other conflicting as well as outdating findings in the literature. We recommend prudently exploring DLC films as potential coatings on metallic TJR components to solve the problems pertaining to wear, metal ion release, and corrosion. Ultimately, we advise bringing DLC into clinical use only after addressing all challenges and concerns outlined in this article.
类金刚石碳 (DLC) 由于其良好的生物摩擦-热-机械特性，已被用作各种技术应用的首选涂层材料。在这里，研究了将 DLC 引入骨科关节植入物的可能性。随着越来越多的骨关节炎患者以及骨关节炎关节不适进入年轻和更活跃的人群，迫切需要提高传统全关节置换 (TJR) 的性能和完整性。现代关节置换装置使用金属对聚合物关节来恢复磨损、损坏或患病的软骨的功能。通过交联和抗氧化剂来解决聚合物部件的磨损问题；然而，在金属部件的情况下，与腐蚀和金属离子在体内释放有关的并发症仍然存在。通过这篇综述文章，我们探讨了在金属承载表面上使用 DLC 涂层的用途，并阐明了为什么这项技术可能是解决骨科电化学挑战的可行解决方案。通过评估摩擦材料特性化方法，研究了 DLC 涂层的不同特性及其在 TJR 中的可行性。讨论了涂层-基底界面的整体特性化和此类系统的磨损性能。与用于 TJR 的所有生物材料一样，我们需要仔细考虑潜在的体内挑战。我们提出了 DLC 涂层的一些注意事项，包括分层、疏水性以及文献中其他相互矛盾和过时的发现。我们建议谨慎探索 DLC 薄膜作为金属 TJR 部件的潜在涂层，以解决磨损、金属离子释放和腐蚀问题。最终，我们建议在解决本文中概述的所有挑战和问题之后，才将 DLC 应用于临床。
