Probing influence of gamma-sterilization on the oxidation, crystallization, sliding wear resistance and cytocompatibility of chemically modified graphene oxide reinforced HDPE/UHMWPE nanocomposites and wear debris

Osteolysis and aseptic loosening due to wear at the articulating interfaces of prosthetic joints are considered to be the key concerns for implant failure in load bearing orthopedic applications .In an effort to reduce the wear and processing difficulties of UHMWPE, our research group recently developed HDPE/UHMWPE nanocomposites with chemically modified graphene oxides (mGO). Considering the importance of sterilization, this work explores the influence of -ray dosage of 25 kGy on the clinically relevant performance-limiting properties of these newly developed hybrid nanocomposites, in vitro. Importantly, this work also probes into the cytotoxic effects of the wear debris of different compositions and sizes on osteoblast and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). In particular, -ray sterilized 1wt% of mGO reinforced HDPE/UHMWPE nanocomposite exhibited an improvement in the oxidative index (16%), free energy of immersion (-12.1 mN/m), surface polarity (5.0 %) and hardness (42%). Consequently, such enhance...