Organ and tissue distribution of wear products in ovo - OVAPIO

The use of implants in arthroplasty is a common method to restore mobility and quality of life. It was recently shown that orthopaedic implants containing the commonly used CoCrMo alloy can release micro- and nanoscale particles as well as Co and Cr ions due to corrosion and abrasive wear. While the local distribution of Co and Cr and the resulting adverse tissue reactions are already well described in literature, little is known about their systemic distribution and possible toxic effects in other organs or tissues. The proposed project aims to investigate the systemic distribution of Co and Cr ions within chicken embryos as a model for vertebrate organisms. For this, embryos will be exposed to defined concentrations of Co and Cr ions. To achieve spatially resolved analysis of metal species in the µm-range, we aim to perform these investigations using synchrotron based micro-XRF at the ESRF. The obtained results will help to improve the safety and efficacy of arthroplasty implants.