NanoGlide™
Vallum’s subtractive nanotexturing on
polyethylene is branded NanoGlide
because it has been shown to adsorb
lubricin – the body’s natural lubrication in joints.
Vallum’s in vitro studies have shown subtractive nanotexturing on polyethylene significantly reduces bacterial attachment and wear as compared to control polyethylene and correlates with the significantly increased adsorption of the beneficial proteins, lubricin, mucin and casein on nanotextured polyethylene as compared to control polyethylene. Adsorption is the adhesion of molecules from a liquid to a surface. This process creates a film of the adsorbate on the surface of the adsorbent. This process differs from absorption, in which a fluid permeates a solid.
NanoGlide subtractive nanotexturing removes less than 50 nanometers of material from the surface of a polyethylene component in a total joint replacement. Since polyethylene components in total joint replacements are millions of nanometers thick, this imperceptible topographical change has no effect on dimensions, no effect on mechanical strength, no effect on design and no effect on chemical composition. ANAB nanotexturing fully preserves all of polyethylene’s positive attributes while improving the antimicrobial and wear resistant properties of polyethylene.
Lubricin is both antimicrobial and wear resistant. Its wear resistance is due to the fact that lubricin is actually your body’s natural joint lubricant, providing your joints with near frictionless motion.
NanoGlide nanotextured polyethylene adsorbs 8X the amount of lubricin as does polyethylene, enhancing the natural lubrication of lubricin on polyethylene used in joint replacement.
Vallum has not conducted any clinical studies to support its in vitro results on polyethylene.
Published studies have shown:
1. Lubricin and mucin inhibit bacterial attachment, which inhibits the formation of biofilms.
2. Mucin inhibits bacteria from signaling, which also inhibits the formation of biofilms.
Vallum in vitro studies have shown that a significant increase in the adsorption of lubricin, mucin and casein on NanoGlide nanotextured polyethylene correlates to a significant reduction in bacterial attachment on NanoGlide nanotextured polyethylene as compared to control.