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Lubricants
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Tribology of Medical Devices
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Tribology of Medical Devices

A special issue of Lubricants (ISSN 2075-4442).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 3625

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Chengxiong Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
Interests: surface engineering; tribology; mechanical damage
Prof. Dr. Duncan E. T. Shepherd

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Interests: biomaterials; design; mechanical testing; medical devices

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to extend an invitation for submissions to this Special Issue titled "Tribology of Medical Devices". Our aim with this Special Issue is to compile a comprehensive collection of the most recent, cutting-edge developments and innovations in the field of vascular tribology.

We are seeking both review articles and original research studies that provide theoretical explorations, ground-breaking experimental research, and inventive computational approaches. These contributions will help deepen our understanding of the mechanisms at play on multiple scales. We also encourage novel applications that push the existing boundaries of this field. The scope of this Special Issue includes topics such as friction, wear, lubrication, and contact mechanics in the context of blood, vascular tissue, and vascular-related devices, as well as surface engineering techniques and the design and fabrication of these engineered surfaces.

We are particularly eager to receive submissions from a diverse range of academics, industry researchers, and practitioners who are contributing to this rapidly evolving field. This call for papers represents an exceptional opportunity for your work to reach a broad audience and for you to engage with others in your field.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Chengxiong Lin
Prof. Dr. Duncan E. T. Shepherd
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Lubricants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • friction
  • wear
  • lubrication
  • contact mechanics
  • surface engineering
  • finite element simulation
  • damage evaluation

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

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25 pages, 4121 KB  
Review
Advances in the Tribological Research of Ceramic-on-Ceramic Artificial Joints
by Menglin Zhou, Zihan Lin, Xiaolu Jiang, Jianhua Jin, Qi Wan, Li Zhang and Zhaoxian Zheng
Lubricants 2026, 14(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants14010036 - 14 Jan 2026
Viewed by 650
Abstract
Ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) bearings are widely used in total hip arthroplasty due to their extremely low wear rate, excellent chemical stability, and good biocompatibility. They are considered one of the most reliable long-term friction bearing systems. Although frictional instability, lubrication regime transitions, and microstructural [...] Read more.
Ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) bearings are widely used in total hip arthroplasty due to their extremely low wear rate, excellent chemical stability, and good biocompatibility. They are considered one of the most reliable long-term friction bearing systems. Although frictional instability, lubrication regime transitions, and microstructural damage mechanisms have been widely reported at the experimental and retrieval-analysis levels, current clinical evidence, limited by follow-up duration and event incidence, has not demonstrated a definitive negative impact on the clinical performance of fourth-generation ceramic components, including BIOLOX® delta. Data from national arthroplasty registries consistently demonstrate excellent survivorship and low complication rates for 4th-generation ceramics in both hard-on-soft and hard-on-hard configurations. The most reported causes for revision, such as infection, dislocation, aseptic loosening, and periprosthetic fracture, are not primarily associated with ceramic-related complications, such as ceramic fracture, excessive wear, squeaking, and revision, related to bearing failure; however, these mechanisms remain highly relevant for the design and evaluation of emerging ceramic materials and next-generation implant systems, where inadequate control may potentially impact long-term clinical performance. This review summarizes recent advances in the tribological research of CoC artificial joints, focusing on clinical tribological challenges, material composition and surface characteristics, lubrication mechanisms, wear and microdamage evolution, and third-body effects. Recent progress in ceramic toughening strategies, surface engineering, biomimetic lubrication simulation, and structural optimization is also discussed. Finally, future research directions are outlined to support the performance optimization and long-term reliability assessment of CoC artificial joint systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Medical Devices)
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20 pages, 7436 KB  
Review
Current Status and Future Prospects of Small-Diameter Artificial Blood Vessels
by Zhaoxian Zheng, Menglin Zhou, Xiaolu Jiang, Zihan Lin, Jianhua Jin, Qi Wan, Chengxiong Lin and Li Zhang
Lubricants 2025, 13(12), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants13120537 - 11 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1616
Abstract
Small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs, ≤6 mm) face significant barriers in vascular reconstruction due to poor long-term patency stemming from thrombosis, intimal hyperplasia, and mechanical mismatch. Increasing rates of cardiovascular disease and limited autologous vessel supply underscore the urgent need for functional SDVGs. This [...] Read more.
Small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs, ≤6 mm) face significant barriers in vascular reconstruction due to poor long-term patency stemming from thrombosis, intimal hyperplasia, and mechanical mismatch. Increasing rates of cardiovascular disease and limited autologous vessel supply underscore the urgent need for functional SDVGs. This review discusses the critical failure mechanisms of SDVGs and recent material-based advances—hydrophilic modifications, charge control, micro- and nano-engineering, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory treatments, and controlled bioactive release (e.g., heparin, nitric oxide, t-PA). It details progress in cellular and tissue engineering for rapid endothelialization, smooth muscle regeneration, and mechanical durability. The review also highlights emerging gene engineering, the use of bioactive peptides, and molecular pathway strategies for physiological antithrombotic restoration. Finally, it outlines future directions, including smart materials, accelerated endothelialization, advanced manufacturing (3D printing, multilayer electrospinning), multifunctional composites, and clinical translation. Overall, SDVG research is shifting toward active, regenerative vascular substitutes with improved clinical prospects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Medical Devices)
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Other

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33 pages, 3071 KB  
Systematic Review
Friction and Cartilage Wear in Hemiarthroplasty: A Systematic Review of Key Influencing Factors
by Victoria P. Marino, Francesca De Vecchi, Dominik J. Federl, Landon M. Begin, Afton K. Limberg, Douglas C. Moore, Joseph J. Crisco, Douglas W. Van Citters and Markus A. Wimmer
Lubricants 2026, 14(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants14010018 - 31 Dec 2025
Viewed by 874
Abstract
Hemiarthroplasty addresses joint damage confined to one side, preserving native cartilage and bone, but accelerated degeneration of the opposing cartilage can compromise outcomes. This systematic review should clarify whether coefficient of friction (COF) reliably predicts cartilage wear when evaluating hemiarthroplasty bearing materials (HBMs). [...] Read more.
Hemiarthroplasty addresses joint damage confined to one side, preserving native cartilage and bone, but accelerated degeneration of the opposing cartilage can compromise outcomes. This systematic review should clarify whether coefficient of friction (COF) reliably predicts cartilage wear when evaluating hemiarthroplasty bearing materials (HBMs). Thirty in vitro studies reporting both outcomes were identified. Data were extracted on COF, wear, and testing parameters, and wear was standardized using a 0–4 rubric to enable cross-study comparison. Three analytical approaches were applied: linear model fits, Pearson’s correlations, and predictive modeling. Reported COFs increased significantly with testing time, while contact stress and sliding velocity showed variable associations with COF. Predictive models for cobalt–chromium (CoCr), the most studied HBM, showed moderate fit, suggesting that mechanical parameters explain only part of COF variability. For wear, linear models showed poor fit with COF, but correlations indicated positive associations with contact stress. Inconsistent effects of velocity and distance were found. Predictive models explained little variability. Together, these findings suggest that outcomes are strongly influenced by testing conditions, lubricants, and HBM selection, and COF alone is an unreliable predictor of cartilage wear in an experimental setting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tribology of Medical Devices)
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