Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T07:47:55.954Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Transforming Orthopedic Biomaterials Into Bone Cancer Inhibiting Implants: The Role of Selenium Nanoclusters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Phong A. Tran
Affiliation:
Physics Department, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, U.S.A.
Love Sarin
Affiliation:
Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, U.S.A.
Robert H. Hurt
Affiliation:
Division of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, U.S.A.
Thomas J. Webster
Affiliation:
Division of Engineering and Department of Orthopedics, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, U.S.A.
Get access

Abstract

Current orthopedic implants have numerous problems that include poor osseointegration, stress shielding and wear debris-associated bone cell death. In addition, numerous patients receive orthopedic implants as a result of bone cancer resection, yet none of the current orthopedic materials are designed to prevent either the occurrence or reoccurrence of cancer. The objective of this study was to transform a traditional orthopedic material into an implant that can both restore bone and prevent bone cancer growth at the implant-tissue interface. Elemental selenium was chosen as the biologically active agent in this material because of its known chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties. It was found that when selenite salts were reduced by glutathione in the presence of an immersed substrate (titanium (Ti), stainless steel (SS) or ultra high molecular weigh polyethylene (UHMWPE)), elemental selenium nucleated and grew into adherent, hemispherical nanoclusters. For each type of substrate (Ti, SS and UHMWPE), three types of surfaces with different selenium surface densities were fabricated. The zero oxidation state of selenium was confirmed on Ti substrates by XPS profiles. Compared to uncoated Ti and SS substrates, the high-density selenium-coated surfaces inhibited cancerous bone cell functions while promoting healthy bone cell functions. Very little selenium was also found to release (about 250ppb) into the cell culture media after 3 days of immersion. These findings showed for the first time the potential of using selenium nanoclusters as a coating to transform a traditional orthopedic material into a bone cancer inhibiting implant.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Cancer Facts & Figures - 2008, American Cancer Society (ACS), Atlanta, Georgia, 2008.Google Scholar
2. Miller, D, TJ, Webster. Anticancer orthopedic implants. In: H, Nalwa, Webster T, J, editors. Cancer nanotechnology. California: American Scientific; 2007. p 307316 Google Scholar
3. LC, Clark, KP, Cantor, WH, Allaway. Selenium in forage crops and cancer mortality in U.S. counties. Arch Environ Health 1991;146:3742.Google Scholar
4. Zhuo, H, AH, Smith and Steinmaus, C. Selenium and lung cancer: a quantitative analysis of heterogeneity in the current epidemiological literature. Cancer Epidemiology Biomakers and Prevention 2004;13:771778.Google Scholar
5. WQ, Wei, CC, Abnet, YL, Qiao, SM, Dawsey, ZW, Dong, XD, Sun, JH, Fan, EW, Gunter, PR, Taylor and SD, Mark. Prospective study of serum selenium concentrations and esophageal and gastric cardiac cancer, heart disease, stroke and total death. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2004;79:8085.Google Scholar
6. LC, Clark, Dalkin, B, Krongrad, A, GFJ, Combs, BW, Turnbull, EH, Slate, Witherington, R, JH, Herlong, Janosko, E, Carpenter, D, Borosso, C, Falk, S, Rounder, J. Decreased incidence of prostate cancer with selenium supplementation: results of a double-blind cancer prevention trial. Br J Urol 1998;81:730734.Google Scholar
7. GF, Combs. Impact of selenium and cancer-prevention findings on the nutrition-health paradigm. Nutrition and cancer. 2001;40(1):611.Google Scholar
8. TJ, Webster, RW, Siegel, Bizios, R. Osteoblast adhesion on nanophase ceramics. Biomaterials 1999;20:12211224.Google Scholar
9. TJ, Webster, RW, Siegel, Bizios, R. Enhanced functions of osteoblasts on nanophase ceramics. Biomaterials 2000;21:8031809.Google Scholar
10. TJ, Webster, JU, Ejiofor. Increased osteoblast adhesion on nanophase metals: Ti, Ti6Al4V, and CoCrMo. Biomaterials 2004;25:47314739.Google Scholar
11. TJ, Webster, Ergun, C, RH, Doremus, RW, Siegel, Bizios, R. Specific proteins mediate enhanced osteoblast adhesion on nanophase ceramics. J Biomed Mater Res 2000;51:475480.Google Scholar