Liners for medical joint implants with improved wear-resistance

Abstract

An uncoated polymeric liner for a medical joint implant constructed to be engaged in between a head (or a top plate) and a stem (or a base plate) of said medical joint implant. The uncoated polymeric liner is prepared from a polymeric matrix comprising a polymeric material and at least one metal chalcogenides or dichalcogenides nanoparticle which is distributed within said polymeric matrix.

1 . An uncoated polymeric liner for a medical joint implant constructed to be engaged in between a head (or a top plate) and a stem (or a base plate) of said medical joint implant, said uncoated polymeric liner comprising:
 a polymeric matrix comprising a polymeric material and at least one metal chalcogenides or dichalcogenides nanoparticle,   
       wherein said at least one metal chalcogenides or dichalcogenides nanoparticle is distributed within said polymeric matrix, and 
       wherein said at least one metal chalcogenides or dichalcogenides nanoparticle is selected from the group consisting of: 
       a. TiS 2 , 
       b. TiSe 2 , 
       c. TiTe 2 , 
       d. WS 2 , 
       e. WSe 2 , 
       f. WTe 2 , 
       g. MoS 2 , 
       h. MoSe 2 , 
       i. MoTe 2 , 
       j. SnS 2 , 
       k. SnSe 2 , 
       l. SnTe 2 , 
       m. RuS 2 , 
       n. RuSe 2 , 
       o. RuTe 2 , 
       p. GaS, 
       q. GaSe, 
       r. GaTe, 
       s. InS, 
       t. InSe, 
       u. HfS 2 , 
       v. ZrS 2 , 
       w. VS 2 , 
       x. ReS 2 , and 
       y. NbS 2 . 
     
     
         2 . The uncoated polymeric liner according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one metal chalcogenides or dichalcogenides nanoparticle is selected from the group consisting of nanotubes nanoparticles of tungsten disulfide (WS 2 ); and molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . The uncoated polymeric liner according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric material is selected from the list consisting of:
 i. UHMWPE;   ii. PEEK;   iii. Carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK; or   iv. PI.   
     
     
         4 . The uncoated polymeric liner according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric material is UHMWPE. 
     
     
         5 . The uncoated polymeric liner according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric matrix having a volume concentration of between 5%-99% volume per volume (v/v) of said polymeric material. 
     
     
         6 . The uncoated polymeric liner according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric matrix having a volume concentration of between 1%-5% volume per volume (v/v) of said at least one metal chalcogenides or dichalcogenides nanoparticle. 
     
     
         7 . The uncoated polymeric liner according to  claim 1 , for use in medical joint implants selected from: a hip joint, a knee joint, an ankle joint, an intervertebral disc, a shoulder joint, an elbow joint, a wrist joint, a finger joint, a finger metacarpal joint, a toe joint, a toe-metatarsal joint, a carpometacarpal joint. 
     
     
         8 . The uncoated polymeric liner according to  claim 1 , produced by compression molding. 
     
     
         9 . The uncoated polymeric liner according to  claim 1 , produced by 3D printing. 
     
     
         10 . The uncoated polymeric liner according to  claim 1 , produced by injection molding.