Biotribology Problems for Human Joints

Prof. Irinia Hussainova

The application of tribology in biology is a growing and rapidly expanding field. It necessarily builds
upon the fundamentals of engineering tribology, and extends well beyond conventional boundaries.
Biomedical tribological systems involve an extensive range of synthetic materials and natural tissues,
which often operate in complex interactive biological environments. Their performance
specifications and lifetimes often exceed that found in many engineering systems and frequently
have to extend beyond the lifetime of the patient. Biomedical tribology involves natural human and
animal systems and, of increasing importance, the development of replacement (prosthetic) devices
to replace diseased tissues and organs.
The current designs of prosthetic devices, such as total replacement joints, have demonstrated
clinical lifetimes of well beyond 10 years. These successes have also led to new types of problems,
relating to long-term tribological and biological interactions within the human body that can limit
the lifetime of many of these devices. As the average age of the elderly population increases, their
expectations of levels of activity and quality of life increase, the fundamental specification and longterm performance requirements of biomaterials and prosthetic devices are being extended.
A new era of biotribology is now emerging, in which the conventional approach of defining
tribological requirements in terms of engineering functions is no longer adequate.
The course focuses on the major areas of tribology and, primarily, biotribology, the natural human
joints and their artificial replacements. The natural synovial joint and artificial cartilages are initially
described. The types of joint replacements are introduced and the major limitations that control
their long-term survivorship in patients and adverse biological reactions to wear debris are discussed.
Finally, the alternatives for joint replacement in the next millennium are described, including both
functional biomaterials that are engineered to give improved biological activity and viable tissue
engineered systems.
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Introduction
Biology. Human joints and their pathology.
Basic principles of tribology: Friction and adhesion.
Basic principles of tribology: Wear.
Basic principles of tribology: Lubrication.
Basic principles of tribology: Corrosion and corrosive fatigue.
Mechanical behavior of bearing. Bio Joints.
Bone mechanics.
Biomaterials engineering and production. Metallic implant materials.
Bioceramics.
Biocomposites in medical application.
Nanotechnology and biomaterials.
Biolubrication.
Tribology of joints.
Biotribology testing.