Biocompatibility and Cellular Behavior of TiNbTa Alloy with Adapted Rigidity for the Replacement of Bone Tissue

Abstract

In this work, the mechanical and bio-functional behavior of a TiNbTa alloy is evaluated as a potential prosthetic biomaterial used for cortical bone replacement. The results are compared with the reference Ti c.p. used as biomaterials for bone-replacement implants. The estimated mechanical behavior for TiNbTa foams was also compared with the experimental Ti c.p. foams fabricated by the authors in previous studies. A TiNbTa alloy with a 20–30% porosity could be a candidate for the replacement of cortical bone, while levels of 80% would allow the manufacture of implants for the replacement of trabecular bone tissue. Regarding biocompatibility, in vitro TiNbTa, cellular responses (osteoblast adhesion and proliferation) were compared with cell growth in Ti c.p. samples. Cell adhesion (presence of filopodia) and propagation were promoted. The TiNbTa samples had a bioactive response similar to that of Ti c.p. However, TiNbTa samples show a better balance of bio-functional behavior (promoting osseointegration) and biomechanical behavior (solving the stress-shielding phenomenon and guaranteeing mechanical resistance).

In Vitro and Electrochemical Characterization of Laser-Cladded Ti-Nb-Ta Alloy for Biomedical Applications

“…Titanium (Ti) and its alloys (Ti alloys) have shown enormous potential to be used to make human body implants and other metallic biomaterials. A rise in patient-specific implants has been observed in recent years due to novel inventions in technology and increased human life expectancy [1]. However, the materials currently being used have compatibility issues, and there has been a concurrent rise in searching for viable alternatives.…”

Titanium Alloys and Titanium-Based Matrix Composites

“…Regarding biomedicine, titanium alloys belong to the few biomaterials that naturally match the requirement of bone implants or bone tissue replacement in the human body. The mechanical and bio-functional behavior of a Ti-30Nb-13Ta alloy in the form of foam, fabricated by mechanical alloying and subsequent spark plasma sintering, was studied by Giner et al [15]. The material was evaluated as a potential prosthetic biomaterial used for cortical bone replacement and compared with commercial, pure Ti used for bone replacement implants.…”

Type-A Gelatin-Based Hydrogel Infiltration and Degradation in Titanium Foams as a Potential Method for Localised Drug Delivery

“…All materials employed in the manufacture of orthopaedic implants must comply with the major characteristics related to stress-loading and long-term clinical success, such as chemical inertia, high strength under monotonic and cyclic loads (fatigue strength), low elastic modulus to prevent stress shielding [ 1 ], high corrosion resistance under body fluids [ 2 ], ease in shaping and non-toxicity, osseointegration, and excellent biocompatibility [ 3 ]. Specifically, for osseointegration, a great influence is exerted by the chemical nature, the topography, and the roughness of the surface [ 4 ].…”