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

• Marit Hougen; Ivan Rios Mondragon; Mihaela-Roxana Cimpan et al. (2025). Roughing It: Topography and Surface Chemistry of Hierarchical Diamond Coatings Modulate Protein and Cellular Interactions. (external link)
• 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)

2015

• Paul Johan Høl (2015). Analyse av metallfrigjøring fra medisinske implantater. (external link)
• Susann Grosse; Hans Kristian Haugland; Peer Kåre Lilleng et al. (2015). Wear particles and ions from cemented and uncemented titanium-based hip prostheses - A histological and chemical analysis of retrieval material. (external link)

2012

• Zouhir Ekeland Allouni; Paul Johan Høl; Miguel Angel Cauqui et al. (2012). Role of physicochemical characteristics in the Uptake of TiO2 nanoparticles by fibroblasts. (external link)

1998

• Henning Lygre; Einar Solheim; Paul Johan Høl (1998). Organic leachables from polymer-based dental filling materials. (external link)
• Gunvor Bentung Lygre; Paul Johan Høl; Rune Eide et al. (1998). Metals in saliva from subjects with symptoms associated with amalgam. (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)
• Marie-Luise Sellin; Anika Seyfarth-Sehlke; Mahammad Aziz et al. (2024). Isolation of TiNbN wear particles from a coated metal-on-metal bearing: Morphological characterization and in vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity in human osteoblasts. (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)

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)

2011

• Øystein Johannes Gøthesen; Birgitte Espehaug; Stein Håkon Lygre et al. (2011). Implantatoverlevelse og revisjonsårsaker ved primær ”mobile bearing”, ”fixed modular bearing” og ”fixed non-modular bearing” totalprotese i kne. En rapport fra Nasjonalt register for leddproteser. (external link)
• 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)

1999

• Henning Lygre; Paul Johan Høl; Einar Solheim et al. (1999). Organic leachables from polymer-based dental filling materials. (external link)
• GB 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)

2016

• Alexander Franciscus van Tol; Paul Johan Høl; Geir Hallan et al. (2016). Can clinical radiographs be used for large scale monitoring of polyethylene wear?. (external link)

2009

• Zouhir Ekeland Allouni; Paul Johan Høl; Nils Roar Gjerdet et al. (2009). Interaction between TiO2 nanoparticles and fibroblasts. (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)
• Paul Johan Høl; Kari Indrekvam; Roel Bierling et al. (2013). Metallkonsentrasjon i blod hos pasienter med "Birmingham resurfacing" hofteprotese. En prospektiv longitudinell studie i en norsk cohort. (external link)

2023

• Michelle Khan; Stein Håkon Låstad Lygre; Geir Hallan et al. (2023). Bruk av blodtomhet ved totalprotese i kne- 3 års oppfølging (2018-2021) med data fra Nasjonalt register for leddproteser. (external link)
• 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)

2007

• Zouhir Allouni Ekeland; Mihaela Roxana Cimpan; Paul Johan Høl et al. (2007). Aggregation and sedimentation of TiO2 nanoparticles. (external link)
• Paul Johan Høl (2007). Skrivegruppa for PhD-kandidatar under biomaterialparaplyen. (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)

2019

• Anika Jonitz-Heincke; Anika Seyfarth; Christian Fabry et al. (2019). Impact of TiNbN wear particles on osteoblastic differentiation capacity and induction of inflammatory reactions. (external link)

2006

• Paul Johan Høl; Anders Mølster; Nils Roar Gjerdet et al. (2006). Hip fracture implants increase serum metal levels. (external link)

2003

• Paul Johan Høl; Jan Sverre Vamnes; Nils Roar Gjerdet et al. (2003). Copper, zinc, and selenium in human blood and urine after injection of sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate. A study on subjects with dental amalgam. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in NVA.

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