Biomaterials, Ions and Particle Analsysi Laboratory

The B-PAL offers a spectrum of advanced methodologies to academic and industrial clients and specifically: • Wear Debris Isolation and Characterization • In-vitro and In-vivo Biological Reactivity Test • Metal Ion Analysis • Implant Retrieval Analysis Entirely new methods for wear particle purification and display provide the high recovery and particle separation necessary for individual particle chemical and accurate quantitative morphometric analysis on both SEM/EDS and STEM/EDS imaging platforms. These novel tools have been used on wear debris isolated from the serum-based wear lubricants, and from periprosthetic tissue and synovial fluid. The protocols have been recently recognized with the 2011 John Charnley Award from The Hip Society. Metal ion concentration is evaluated using ICP-MS analysis, providing a complete assessment of the wear and corrosion behavior of the implant and wear debris. Cr speciation is also available. Metal ions can be also evaluated in whole bloods, plasma and tissue. Using macro and microscopic analysis of implant surfaces and structural failures (LM, SEM) coupled with X-Ray investigative techniques (XPS, EDS) and metrology (CMM, profilometry) B-PAL can determine the mode of failure of explanted implants. The laboratory works under conditions that exceed the Code Federal Regulation Title 21 (21CFR58) for Good Laboratory Practices (GLP). The protocols used conform and exceed both ISO and ASTM standards.

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