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This research was to determine the biocompatibility of simulated wear particles from a GORE-TEX cruciate ligament prosthesis using in vitro and in vivo techniques. Exposure of normal human synovial fibroblasts and primary mouse peritoneal macrophages to the particles revealed no cytotoxicity, as determined by lactate dehydrogenase release, but beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase was released from macrophages at high concentrations, showing inflammatory potential. This was not seen when the particles were injected into mouse knees, where no adverse reactions were observed. These simulated wear particles were shown to be biocompatible using these in vitro and in vivo systems.

Diamond-like carbon coating is an inert, impervious hydrocarbon coating with properties suitable for use in the biomedical field, particularly in orthopaedic implants. Mouse peritoneal macrophages and mouse fibroblasts were grown on tissue culture plates treated with diamond-like carbon and the biocompatibility assessed both biochemically and morphologically. This investigation showed that diamond-like carbon coating caused no adverse effects on cells in culture and therefore merits further investigation as a coating for biomedical use.