My research activities focus on biomaterials, i.e. artificial materials used in reconstructive surgery, which may have huge clinical impact in terms of usage and diversity. The associated research topics span from applied research to basic. The activities are designed to involve biomechanical, biological and chemical effects of artificial materials used on humans. 
 

Biomatlab is located in the laboratory building at Haukeland University Hospital and Department of Clinical Medicine, UiB. Our research activities focus on biomaterials, i.e. artificial materials used in reconstructive surgery. The associated research topics span from applied research to basic. The laboratory has an analysis centre for retrieved orthopedic implants (retrievals) and associated tissue biopsies and blood samples. Moreover, Biomatlab are involved in biomechanical studies and assessment of exposure and bioresponse (biocompatibility). Combining the information from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register with a clinical retrieval centre allows the performance of orthopedic implants, mainly knee- and hip prostheses to be tracked and analysed, providing new information on underlying causes of failures.

I have extensive experience in clinical and biological issues, which started with the analysis of trace metals in lung tissue in the Master thesis and continued with my PhD work on the chemical analysis of a large clinical material taken from patients with dental amalgam fillings.
The activities that were started in the postdoctoral period, was further developed under my stipend from Bergen Medical Research Foundation (2010-2013). My project deals with the clinical and biological effects of implants that remain in the body. This is performed by characterize the degradation products in tissue and blood from patients with different types of implants, and correlate with clinical analysis, such as effects on bone cells and immune system.

The ongoing activities will broaden the knowledge of biological and clinical consequences of artificial biomaterials, which can be used in developing new and safer materials.

 

2025

• Håkon Greve  Johannessen; Geir Hallan; Thomas Istvan Edelsvärd Kadar et al. (2025). Early cup migration and wear as predictors for later aseptic loosening: a secondary evaluation of a randomized controlled RSA trial on cemented hip arthroplasties with 18-year follow-up. (external link)
• Øystein Skåden; Ove Nord Furnes; Stein Håkon Låstad Lygre et al. (2025). Radiostereometric measurement of implant migration in robotically assisted vs conventional bi-cruciate stabilized cemented total knee arthroplasty: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. (external link)

2024

• Maya Maya Barbosa Silva; Jan-Erik Gjertsen; Irene Ohlen Moldestad et al. (2024). Effects of implant precoating and fat contamination on the stability of the tibial baseplate. (external link)

1997

• Rolf Isrenn; Jan Sverre Vamnes; Nils Roar Gjerdet et al. (1997). Trace elements in human blood and urine after injection of 2.3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonate. Multivariate study of the relevance for allerged amalgam related desease. (external link)
• Paul Johan Høl; A.J Gawron; J.M Hurst et al. (1997). Investigation of lead and cadmium levels in roadside Rhododendron leaves in Bergen, Norway, utilizing multivariate analysis. (external link)

2011

• Peter Ellison; Paul Johan Høl; Geir Hallan et al. (2011). Et nasjonalt analysesenter for uthentetede ortopediske implantater. (external link)
• Ingrid Elise Weydahl; Paul Johan Høl (2011). Slitasjepartikler på nanostørrelse i vevet rundt leddproteser. (external link)
• Peter Ellison; Paul Johan Høl; Geir Hallan et al. (2011). Økt løsning av sementert Titan hofteprotese – En studie på uthentet materiale. (external link)

2013

• Susann Grosse; Paul Johan Høl; Hans Kristian Haugland et al. (2013). Comparison of wear particle exposure and tissue reactions in patients with cemented and uncemented titanium hip prostheses that failed due to osteolysis. (external link)
• Anne Marie Fenstad; Ove Furnes; Geir Hallan et al. (2013). Using the Norwegian arthroplasty register to generate a DNA biobank. (external link)
• Paul Johan Høl; Nils Roar Gjerdet; Jon Anders Torbjørn Jonung (2013). Korrosion och utsläpp av metaller från perifera stentar (enstaka och stent i stent) med eller utan belastning - en experimentell studie. (external link)

2006

• Paul Johan Høl; Anders Mølster; Nils Roar Gjerdet et al. (2006). Hip fracture implants increase serum metal levels. (external link)
• Rune Eide; Helene Meyer Tvinnereim; Paul Johan Høl (2006). Different yttrium stabilized zirconium-oxide core ceramics have different element contents. (external link)

2007

• Rigmor Siri Flatebø; Paul Johan Høl; Nils Roar Gjerdet (2007). Titanium particles in oral tissue identified by laser ablation ICP-MS. (external link)

2019

• Eivind Strandenes; Peter Ellison; Anders Mølster et al. (2019). Strength of Pulvertaft modifications: tensile testing of porcine flexor tendons. (external link)
• Paul Johan Høl (2019). Metals in orthopaedic implants: Mechanical, chemical and biological properties of titanium and stainless steel implants. (external link)
• Paul Johan Høl; Nils Roar Gjerdet; Torbjörn Jonung (2019). Corrosion and metal release from overlapping arterial stents under mechanical and electrochemical stress - An experimental study. (external link)

2021

• Håkon Greve Johannessen; Thomas Kadar; Geir Hallan et al. (2021). Polyethylene wear in total hip arthroplasty; comparing Oxinium and CoCr femoral heads using radiostereometry with 10 years follow-up. (external link)

2016

• Paul Johan Høl; Kari Indrekvam; Roel Bierling et al. (2016). Metallionenivåer i blod over 5 år med "Birmingham resurfacing" hofteprotese. (external link)

1999

• Henning Lygre; Paul Johan Høl; Einar Solheim et al. (1999). Organic leachables from polymer-based dental filling materials. (external link)
• Gunvor Bentung Lygre; Paul Johan Høl; Rune Eide et al. (1999). Mercury and silver in saliva from subjects with symptoms self-related to amalgam fillings. (external link)

2023

• Michelle Khan; Stein Håkon Låstad Lygre; Paul Johan Høl et al. (2023). Does precoating of the NexGen Option tibial component lower the risk of loosening? 10 years follow up from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register 2012-2021. (external link)

2003

• Jan Sverre Vamnes; Rolf Isrenn; Paul Johan Høl et al. (2003). Blood mercury following DMPS administration to subjects with and without dental amalgam. (external link)

2009

• Zouhir Ekeland Allouni; Mihaela Roxana Cimpan; Paul Johan Høl et al. (2009). Agglomeration and Sedimentation of TiO2 Nanoparticles in Cell Culture Medium. (external link)

2008

• Carmen Irina Vamanu; Mihaela Roxana Cimpan; Paul Johan Høl et al. (2008). Induction of cell death by TiO2 nanoparticles: studies on a human monoblastoid cell line. (external link)

2014

• Susann Grosse; Paul Johan Høl; Peer Kåre Lilleng et al. (2014). COMPARISON OF WEAR PARTICLE EXPOSURE AND TISSUE REACTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CEMENTED AND UNCEMENTED TITANIUM HIP PROSTHESES THAT FAILED DUE TO OSTEOLYSIS. (external link)

2015

• Paul Johan Høl (2015). Analyse av metallfrigjøring fra medisinske implantater. (external link)

2022

• Paul Johan Høl; Geir Hallan; Ove Nord Furnes et al. (2022). Similarly low-blood metal ion levels at 10-years follow-up of total hip arthroplasties with Oxinium, CoCrMo, and stainless steel femoral heads. Data from a randomized clinical trial. (external link)

2005

• Paul Johan Høl; Karin Bell; Anders Mølster et al. (2005). Nickel contamination from an intravenous catheter used for infusion. (external link)

2018

• Paul Johan Høl; Einar Klæboe Kristoffersen; Hilde Kristin Vindenes et al. (2018). Novel titanium antigens and assessment of immune activation. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

Publications on Google Scholar

Publications under Nasjonalt vitenarkiv

 

The overall goal of our projects is to improve the performance and safety of orthopedic and other surgical implants by a clinic-laboratory interaction.

Clinical performance of artificial materials can be predicted and improved by investigation of the retrieved devices that have been in clinical use, by a translational research approach, addressing biocompatibility and assessment of physical behavior.

Biomatlab has long experience in trace element and wear particle analysis of clinical samples, mainly related to quantification of degradation products from orthopedic implants. We offer ICP-MS analysis of elements such as: Co, Cr, Zr, Mo, Ni and Ti. 

Read more about our research lab: Biomaterials in surgery: Biomatlab