Summary

The differential of this study is, in addition to the characterization of carbonaceous compounds, the description of the experimental model with surgical implants for Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery

Abstract

Introduction

Possible complications of Sports Medicine and Orthopedic surgeries are suture anchors and interference screws failure and site infection. From this scenario, this project proposes a prospective and controlled experimental study of the application of carbonaceous, mainly graphene, with carbon nanotubes, in orthopedic implants. These carbon allotropes have shown promising results in literature, such as greater durability, better biocompatibility, including suppression or bactericidal specificity. Therefore, these are properties of interest in surgical implants.

Objective

The biological mostly activity of possible osseointegration promoted by graphene are objects of this study. Therefore, the surgical methodology in an animal model for the application of carbonaceous implants was described and the biocompatibility, including suppression or bactericidal specificity.

Methods

The study was designed with a total of 107 animals, approved by the Ethics Committee on the Use of Animals (CEUA) of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, to study the new materials of interest. After synthesis, the materials were characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Raman Spectroscopy is a technique that provides chemical and structural information about different materials. In the case of carbonaceous materials, this technique makes it possible to identify the presence of carbon and the type of hybridization (sp1, sp2, sp3). Graphene and carbon nanotubes are specifically configured by hexagonal lattices with strong covalent carbon sp2. We started studying in-vitro biological studies and animal models.

Results

Initially, cylinders measuring 1.5 mm in diameter and 3 mm in height, both in the presence and absence of carbonaceous enrichment, were inserted into Rattus novergicus rats. These animals were placed in the supine position and with the stabilization of the right lower limb flexed, abducted and externally rotated. Under strict aseptic and anesthetic conditions, a longitudinal non-articular incision was made in the medial parapatellar skin, approximately 2 cm long, and dissected in planes until the identification and exposure of the medial femoral condyle. After exposing the compact bone with the dissection and lifting of the periosteum, a bone tunnel was drilled over the medial femoral epicondyle, measuring 1.5 mm in diameter, medial to the line of reflection of the synovial membrane, using an electric drill with a sterile drill under sterile saline irrigation. Through the bone tunnel, the cylinder is completely introduced into the distal femoral epiphysis. Therefore indicating the biocompatibility of the new carbonaceous. Thus, we evaluated the potential of the materials to the application of carbonaceous implants was described and the biocompatibility, including suppression or bactericidal specificity.

Conclusion

The methods described were feasible, including graphene characterization, surgical procedure and posterior biological analysis. Preliminary results are envisioned for increasing the quality of orthopedic implants.