Abstract
In this review, surface treatment on the implantable medical devices with phospholipid polymers is described. Conventional polymer materials using in the biomedical field do not have enough biocompatibility and blood compatibility; therefore, infusion of an anticoagulant is required during clinical treatments when using these medical devices, to avoid biological responses. To improve their properties, some surface modification methods using newly designed a phospholipid polymer, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer, which is prepared with inspiration from cell membrane surface. Improvement of the bio/blood compatibility of the medical devices using the MPC polymers to suppress unfavorable biological responses at the interface between the medical devices and living organisms are explained. A novel artificial joint system has been developed with MPC polymer grafted onto the surface of cross-linked polyethylene (CLPE), which is used as a liner of artificial joint (CLPE-g-MPC). The MPC grafting on the surface of CLPE liner markedly decrease the friction and the wear. The MPC grafting can successfully inhibit the bone resorptive response to wear particles to levels similar to those of recently developed pharmacological therapies such as cytokine antagonists and osteoprotegerin. This new type artificial hip joint has been implanted to patients in Japan to obtain good clinical results.
