Development of Artificial Intra-articular Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Lubricant for Survival of Total Knee Joint Patient (Preliminary Study for Clinical Application)

We have developed polyethylene glycol (PEG) with excellent tribology as artificial joint lubricity agent for reducing the wear of UHMWPE. PEG of molecular weight two million was used. And the PEG lubricity agent samples prepared a kinds of 3wt% in this study. We performed mechanical experiment and observation of wear surface. The mechanical experiment for wear test on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and Co-Cr alloy of artificial joint : a control group and PEG group. The human symovial fluid and hyaluronic acid were prepared for the control group. The wear surface observation of UHMWPE was performed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mechanical experiment results suggested that the wear of control group less volume than that of PEG group. The SEM pictures showed the wear of control group progressing than that of PEG group. These results showed that PEG lubricant might be effective as an artificial lubricant in joint.