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Int. J. Mech. Eng. & Rob. Res. 2014 Ramanpreet Singh and M Sreedhar, 2014

ISSN 2278 – 0149 www.ijmerr.com

Vol. 3, No. 3, July, 2014

© 2014 IJMERR. All Rights Reserved

Review Article

BIO-TRIBOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONSIN MEDICAL SCIENCES - A REVIEW

Ramanpreet Singh1* and M Sreedhar

*Corresponding Author: Ramanpreet Singh � ramanpreet.gurdutta@hotmail.com

Tribology is the science of rubbing, friction and wear. When biological systems especially humanjoints such as knees, hips etc which continuously move relative to one another are studied,tribology becomes biotribology. To understand the wear performance of the implant and effectsof synovial fluid principles of biotribology are required. In this paper few papers are reviewedrelated to applications of tribology in medical world. It was observed that for the prosthesisseveral anti-adhesive agents can be used post-surgery, selection of the bio-materials can bemade considering several factors etc. As several tribological synthetic materials and naturaltissues are involved in the biomedical systems that operate in complex environment. So fordesigning any prosthetic device lifetime and performance specifications need to be considered.

Keywords: Tribology, Bio-Tribology, Medical Science, Applications, Bio-Materials

INTRODUCTION

Tribology is derived from the Greek wordtribos which means rubbing. It is defined asthe science and technology of the surfacesinteracting with each other and are in relativemotion with each other. It is considered asan art of providing one stop solutions to someproblems which are of economic importanceas wear of equipment, reliability etc. Thescience of tribology is not limited tomechanical machines, its use is also foundin the medical field. These days bio-tribology9

(human tribology) is acting as a boon. Bio-tribology is defined as the study of friction,

1 Honorary Peer Reviewer, Global Journals Inc. (US)2 Assistant Professor, Lovely Professional University, Punjab.

lubrication and wear and especially in thearticular joints. Wear and Tear is moving partsof the machines created by humans in thesimilar way breakdowns and failure mayresults in the human body parts with age. Soto understand the problem of breakdown inthe human body, bio-tribologists who dealsin the friction and wear related problems ofhuman body helps the medical researchers.Its study is now allowing the long lasting ofthe artificial joints which otherwise was notpossible. To understand the researches in thisfield some research and review papers havebeen reviewed as under.

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Int. J. Mech. Eng. & Rob. Res. 2014 Ramanpreet Singh and M Sreedhar, 2014

LITERATURE REVIEW

In this section some papers are reviewed toget a glimpse of what research has alreadybeen done in this field.

McGonagle L et al., (2011) observed thatsome anti-adhesive agents when appliedduring surgery adhesion formation wasprevented that resulted in some reduction inwear. They performed experimental analysisof anti-adhesive agents commonly usedduring tendon repair. BSF (bovine synovialfluid) was used due to which a thin film wasgenerated which separated the two surfacesand gave rise to optimal lubricationconditions. Ultimately they concluded thatwhen anti-adhesive agents were appliedpost-surgery it has secondary, tribologicalbenefits as severe reduction in wear andfriction and reduction of the risk of failure atthe tendon repair site.

Zivi F et al., (2010) performed researchon material tribometry in bioengineeringapplications. In their research they concludedthat for tribo-systems the measurement offrictional force and calculation of coefficientof friction was of great importance. For somecases it was critical as in the cases of humanjoint implants where system behavior wasdetermined by friction force. For materials itwas observed that in order to improve theexisting materials tri-bological approach isvery important in research activities as it willhelp in developing new ones with superiorcharacteristics.

Alakoski E et al., (2008) analyzed load-bearing biomedical applications of diamond-like carbon coatings. From the previousstudies it was found that very successful jointreplacement procedures results indysfunction and pain. Wear of bearing

surface of artificial prosthesis joints isconsidered as severe clinical problem. Aseffective boundary lubrication was takingplace at the joints so interaction of thelubricant and bearing surface was consideredas utmost important. In this study adsorbedSAPL surface active phospholipids (body’snatural lubricant) detected on the surface ofretrieved prosthesis was characterized.Ultimately it was concluded that interactionof various tribo pairs and SAPL is extremelyfavorable in reducing wear and friction at thebearing surface.

Alakoski E et al., (2008) in their reviewpaper discussed about the unsuccessfuldiamond like carbon coating material in thebiomedical applications. They concluded thatdue to high internal stress adhesion of thickcoating was affected. There is a need forexcellent adhesion of DLC coatings for loadbearing applications. When the filtered arcdischarge method was used all requirementsfor articulating implants were fulfilled,depending on the substrate materialselection.

Brostow W and Pietkiewicz D (2007)analyzed an example of an application ofpolymer tribology for creation of retractablesyringe (safety medical device). During itsoperation at various stages low-and highdynamic friction was needed. They performedfunctionality test which made availablevarious results which were earlier notobtainable. They combined those results withforce results and found that polyolefinelastomer imparts better properties to apolypropylene containing resin as comparedto silica. Due to that selection of appropriatepolymeric material for syringe componentwas made possible.

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Int. J. Mech. Eng. & Rob. Res. 2014 Ramanpreet Singh and M Sreedhar, 2014

BomBa D et al., (2007) reviewed somepapers and found that to satisfy functionalitydemands medical implants are preferred.Those products (medical implants) have thebiomedical properties as that of autogenoustissues. Main factors that are ensured fordesigning are bioadhesion, biofunctionalityand biocompatibility. They also concludedthat except the four subgroups someattention is also required in case of smartmaterials.

Shi B and Liang H (2001) studied around46 research and review papers on tribologicalbiomaterials. He concluded that biomaterialsare the future of medicine, from the tissuereplacement and tissue regenerationbiomaterial will play a vital role. Technologieswill be developed when the materials will bedesigned in strength, shape, behavior andfunction. To improve the biocompatibility andbio-cavity biological factors such as bonegrowth will be incorporated in the futurebiomaterials.

Furey M J (1999) performed and analyzedthe effects of biochemical environments onthe wear and damage of articular cartilage.Due to loss of articular cartilage from thecontacting surface of the articulating bonesin synovial joints osteoarthritis (OA) ischaracterized. He majorly focused onconnections between bio tribology andosteoarthritis. The test devices weredeveloped to study the tribological propertiesof articular cartilage. From the results of thetest devices increased wear and damage ofarticular cartilage surface was observed dueto biochemical changes. From the study onbio tribology it was made very clear thatsignificant contribution in the joint pathologyis possible.

CONCLUSION

Biotribology is the science of wear and frictionespecially in case of humans such as knees,joints etc. which continuously move relativeto one another. As all the above reviewedpaper deals in biotribology, it was observedthat material plays an important role in thelubrication. Discussion was made about theselection of different biomaterials but stillthere is a scope for the selection of smartmaterials with the same considerations. Alsothe material properties can be improved iffactors such as bone growth can beconsidered. As bovine synovial fluid waspreferred for reduction in wear for tendonrepair other materials can also be considered.When focus was diverted towards themedical devices it was found that when someadd-on material was added to polymericmaterial its properties become suitable for itsdesign. It is seen that successful jointreplacement procedures results indysfunction and pain. Wear of bearingsurface of artificial prosthesis joints isconsidered as severe clinical problem. Toavoid friction and reduce wear interaction oftribo pairs and SAPL should be favored.

REFERENCES

1. Alakoski E et al., (2008) “Load-BearingBiomedical Applications of Diamond-LikeCarbon Coatings - Current Status”, TheOpen Orthopaedics Journal, Vol. 2, pp.43-50.

2. Anne Jacobson “Biotribology: TheTribology of Living Tissues”.

3. Bing Shi and Hong Liang (2001),“Tribological Applications of Biomaterials:an Overview”, Science in China(SeriesA), Vol. 44.

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4. BomBa D et al., (2007), “Review ofMaterials in Medical Applications”, RMZ- Materials and Geoenvironment, Vol. 54,No. 4, pp. 471-499.

5. Brostow W and Pietkiewicz D (2007),“Polymer Tribology in Safety MedicalDevices: Retractable Syringes”,Advances in Polymer Technology, Vol.26, No. 1, 56-64.

6. Furey M J (1999), “Biotribology: Studiesof the Effects of BiochemicalEnvironments on the Wear and Damageof Articular Cartilage”, IJBETD.

7. Gale L R (2007) “BiotribologicalAssessment For Artificial Synovial Joints:The Role of Boundary Lubrication”,Institute of Health and BiomedicalInnovation, Queensland University ofTechnology, Brisbane.

8. McGonagle L et al., (2011) “The Bio-Tribological Properties of Anti-AdhesiveAgents Commonly Used During TendonRepair”, Journal of OrthopaedicResearch.

9. Zivi F et al., (2010), “Tribometry of Ma-terials for Bio-Engineering Applications”,Tribology in Industry, Vol. 32, No. 1.