Biological consequences of exposure to prosthetic nanoparticles

髋关节置换手术可以改变关节炎患者的生活，每年在英国进行数千例髋关节置换手术。最近，使用金属制成的髋关节在金属上铰接的情况有所增加，因为这些髋关节使年轻的接受者能够继续参加积极的体育活动。然而，这些金属髋关节上的金属每走一步都会产生数百万个非常小（纳米大小）的金属颗粒，这些颗粒将在身体周围传播。如果身体可以通过正常的排泄来处理这些颗粒，那么这些颗粒可能没有任何影响。另一方面，这些颗粒有可能导致身体不同部位的细胞发生变化，这可能导致金属过敏甚至癌症等疾病。本研究的目的是调查在小鼠模型中暴露于这些颗粒的生物学后果，这些后果可以转化为人类的情况。这将使科学家和临床医生能够更好地了解使用金属对金属髋关节的后果。这将意味着临床医生和患者在选择髋关节置换术类型时可以通过平衡受益与潜在风险来做出更明智的决定。

Hip replacement surgery can transform the lives of people crippled with arthritis and ther are thousands of hip replacement procedures performed every year in the UK. Recently there has been an increase in the use of hips made from metal articulating on metal since these hips enable younger recipients to continue to participate in active sports activities. These metal on metal hips however produce millions of very small (nanometre sized) metal particles with every step taken and these particles will travel around the body. The particles may have no effect whatsoever if the body can dispose of them through normal excretion. On the other hand, the particles have the potential to cause changes to cells in different parts of the body which may lead to diseases such as metal allergy or even cancer. The aims of this study are to investigate the biological consequences of exposure to these particles in a mouse model that can be translated into the human situation. This will enable scientists and clinicians to better understand what the consequences of the use of metal on metal hips might be. This will mean that clinicians and patients can make better informed descisions when choosing the type of hip replacement by balancing the benefits against the potential risks.