Electrochemical methods to enhance osseointegrated prostheses

Mark T. Ehrensberger*, Caelen M. Clark, Mary K. Canty, Eric P. McDermott

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Osseointegrated (OI) prosthetic limbs have been shown to provide an advantageous treatment option for amputees. In order for the OI prosthesis to be successful, the titanium implant must rapidly achieve and maintain proper integration with the bone tissue and remain free of infection. Electrochemical methods can be utilized to control and/or monitor the interfacial microenvironment where the titanium implant interacts with the biological system (host bone tissue or bacteria). This review will summarize the current understanding of how electrochemical modalities can influence bone tissue and bacteria with specific emphasis on applications where the metallic prosthesis itself can be utilized directly as a stimulating electrode for enhanced osseointegration and infection control. In addition, a summary of electrochemical impedance sensing techniques that could be used to potentially assess osseointegration and infection status of the metallic prosthesis is presented.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)17-41
Number of pages25
JournalBiomedical Engineering Letters
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Biofilms
  • Electrical stimulation
  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
  • Implant associated infection
  • Osseointegration
  • Osteogenesis

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