Abstract
Bulk metallic glasses (BMG) show higher strength and lower Young’s modulus than SUS 316L stainless steel and Ti-6Al-4V alloys. This study aimed to investigate the reaction of Zr-based BMG sub-periosteally implanted on the surface of the rat femur, thereby evaluate the possibility of the BMG as biomaterials for osteosynthetic devices. Zr65Al7.5Ni10Cu17.5 BMG ribbons with 10 mm length, 2 mm width and 0.5 mm thickness were implanted sub-periosteally on the femur surface in three male Wistar rats for 6 weeks. Systemic effects were evaluated by measuring Cu and Ni levels in the blood, and local effects were evaluated by the histological observation of the surrounding soft tissues in contact with the BMG. The reaction of the surface of the BMG was examined with scanning electron microscopy. No increase of Cu and Ni levels in the blood was recognized. In the scanning electron microscopy observation, spherical deposits which were considered as sodium chloride crystals were observed. Neither breakage nor pitting corrosion was noted. BMG will be a promising metallic biomaterial for osteosynthetic device that must be removed.
Highlights
For materials of osteosynthetic devices such as bone plates, intramedullary nails, and screws, crystalline metallic alloys such as SUS 316L stainless steel and Ti-6Al-4V alloys are commonly used
In the investigation on the systemic effects of Bulk metallic glasses (BMG) group, the mean whole-blood Cu concentration was 101.3 ± 6.1 μg/dl and the mean whole-blood Ni concentration was less than 0.10 μg/dl
No increase of the blood levels of Cu and Ni was recognized in BMG group in comparison to those of control group
Summary
For materials of osteosynthetic devices such as bone plates, intramedullary nails, and screws, crystalline metallic alloys such as SUS 316L stainless steel and Ti-6Al-4V alloys are commonly used. The materials need to possess non-toxicity, anti-corrosiveness, durability, strength, low Young’s modulus and biocompatibility. Bulk metallic glasses (BMG), i.e. amorphous alloys, are metallic materials with metastable glassy states. Tensile strength of the Zr-based BMG is 1500 - 1700 MPa [1] and approximately twice higher than that of Ti-6Al-4V alloy and 3 times higher than that of 316L stainless steel. Young’s modulus of the Zr-based BMG is 70 to 80 GPa [1], which is closer to that of the bone than those of the conventional biomaterials. The behaviors of Zr-based BMG have not been investigated so far by
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