The Effect of Protein Adsorption on the Friction Behavior of Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene

Abstract

Medical-grade UHMWPE samples with two different surface finishing treatments, milling and melting/reforming were exposed to 10% bovine serum albumin solution and their friction responses were quantified using atomic force microscopy. The observed friction increase upon exposure to proteins was attributed to the formation of a layer of denatured proteins on the surface. Changing the crystallinity and surface energy of UHMWPE affected the protein adsorption mechanism and the resulting increase in friction behavior.