Mechanical properties and biocompatibility of a novel miniscrew made of Zr70Ni16Cu6Al8 bulk metallic glass for orthodontic anchorage

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to fabricate a miniscrew possible for clinical application using Zr70Ni16Cu6Al8 bulk metallic glass (BMG), which has high mechanical strength, low elastic modulus, and high biocompatibility. First, the elastic moduli of Zr-based metallic glass rods made of Zr55Ni5Cu30Al10, Zr60Ni10Cu20Al10, Zr65Ni10Cu17.5Al7.5, Zr68Ni12Cu12Al8, and Zr70Ni16Cu6Al8 were measured. Zr70Ni16Cu6Al8 had the lowest elastic modulus among them. Then, we fabricated Zr70Ni16Cu6Al8 BMG miniscrews with diameters from 0.9 to 1.3 mm, conducted a torsion test, and implanted them into the alveolar bone of beagle dogs to compare insertion torque, removal torque, Periotest, new bone formation around the miniscrew, and failure rate compared with 1.3 mm diameter Ti-6Al-4 V miniscrew. The Zr70Ni16Cu6Al8 BMG miniscrew exhibited a high torsion torque even if the miniscrew had a small diameter. Zr70Ni16Cu6Al8 BMG miniscrews with a diameter of 1.1 mm or less had higher stability and lower failure rate than 1.3 mm diameter Ti-6Al-4 V miniscrews. Furthermore, the smaller diameter Zr70Ni16Cu6Al8 BMG miniscrew was shown, for the first time, to have a higher success rate and to form more new bone around the miniscrew. These findings suggested the usefulness of our novel small miniscrew made of Zr70Ni16Cu6Al8 BMG for orthodontic anchorage.