Abstract
Many current-generation biomedical implants are fabricated from the Ti-6Al-4V alloy because it has many attractive properties, such as low density and biocompatibility. However, the elastic modulus of this alloy is much larger than that of the surrounding bone, leading to bone resorption and, eventually, implant failure. In the present study, we synthesized and performed a detailed analysis of a novel low elastic modulus Ti-based alloy (Ti-28Nb-5Zr-2Ta-2Sn (TNZTS alloy)) using a variety of methods, including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and tensile test. Additionally, the in vitro biocompatibility of the TNZTS alloy was evaluated using SCP-1, SaOs-2, and THP-1 cell lines and primary human osteoblasts. Compared to Ti-6Al-4V, the elastic modulus of TNZTS alloy was significantly lower, while measures of its in vitro biocompatibility are comparable. O2 plasma treatment of the surface of the alloy significantly increased its hydrophilicity and, hence, its in vitro biocompatibility. TNZTS alloy specimens did not induce the release of cytokines by macrophages, indicating that such scaffolds would not trigger inflammatory responses. The present results suggest that the TNZTS alloy may have potential as an alternative to Ti-6Al-4V.
Highlights
Research addressing titanium-based biocompatible alloys has captured great interest in recent decades [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
The production of low elastic modulus alloys is crucial for implantology, where implant failure is often associated with a stiffness mismatch between the implanted material and human bone [12,13]
Other β-stabilizing alloying elements, both isomorphic ones (Mo, V) and eutectoid-forming ones (Fe, Ni, Cr, Mn, Si, Co, Cu), have limited or no biocompatibility [14,21], which rules them out for use in low elastic modulus Ti-based alloys intended for implant applications
Summary
Research addressing titanium-based biocompatible alloys has captured great interest in recent decades [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. The elastic modulus of this alloy (116 GPa [17]), which has a hexagonal crystal structure, is several orders of magnitude higher than that of the surrounding human cancellous bone (0.01–3 GPa [1,2,11]). This phenomenon, known as stress shielding, has been identified as causing bone resorption, which eventually leads or contributes to implant failure. Other β-stabilizing alloying elements, both isomorphic ones (Mo, V) and eutectoid-forming ones (Fe, Ni, Cr, Mn, Si, Co, Cu), have limited or no biocompatibility [14,21], which rules them out for use in low elastic modulus Ti-based alloys intended for implant applications. The as-cast TNZTS alloy is characterized as having a large-grained structure of non-homogenous β-solid solution
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