Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2010, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (42): 7849-7853.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2010.42.014

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Biocompatibility evaluation of β-type titanium alloys

Zhang Ming-hua1, Yu Zhen-tao2, Zhang Dian-zhong1, Jing Wen-sen1, Long Hua1   

  1. 1 Institute of Orthopedics Oncology of Chinese PLA, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA, Xi’an   710038, Shaanxi Province, China; 2 Northwest Institute for Nonferrous Metal Research, Xi’an   710016, Shaanxi Province, China
  • Online:2010-10-15 Published:2010-10-15
  • About author:Zhang Ming-hua, Associate chief physician, Associate professor, Institute of Orthopedics Oncology of Chinese PLA, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA, Xi’an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China zmhua@fmmu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:

    National High-tech Research & Development Program of China (863 Program), No. 2002AA326070*

PDF

545

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have validated the good biocompatibility and strong corrosion resistance of titanium and titanium alloys, β titanium alloy has become the most attractive metal biomedical materials due to high mechanical strength and low elastic modulus.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biocompatibility of two new β-type titanium alloys: TLE (Ti-(3-6) Zr-(2-4) Mo-(24-27) Nb) and TLM 2 (Ti-(1.5-4.5) Zr-(0. 5-5.5) Sn-(1.5-4.4) Mo-(23.5-26.5) Nb).
METHODS: Thirty healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were involved in this study and randomly divided into two groups: subcutaneous implant group and intramuscular implant group. The two new β-type titanium alloys (TLE, TLM 2) were made into cylindrical test pieces, and implanted into thigh subcutaneous tissue and back muscles in rabbit respectively. The contrast materials (Ti-6Al-4V) were implanted into the opposite side in the same animals. According to GB/T16886.6-1997 standard, the samples were taken at 1, 2, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after the implantation to observe fibrous capsule morphology. Interfacial condition between test pieces and surrounding tissues was observed in light microscope, and histological examinations were carried out through hematoxylin-eosin staining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 2, 6, 12, 24 weeks, vascularized capsules formed around specimens, and became thinner and transparent along with the implantation time prolonged, the number of capillaries in the capsules was also increased. The capsule thickness of the intramuscular implant group was less than subcutaneous implant group in 6, 12 weeks. Inflammatory cells included mainly neutrophils, macrophages, multinucleated giant cells, lymphocytes and plasma cells. With the time went, the number of inflammatory cells decreased, the number of neutrophils was significantly reduced at 12 weeks, lymphocytes and plasma cells gradually decreased with time, there was no neutrophil at 24 weeks. The two new β-type titanium alloys (TLE, TLM 2) have good biocompatibility and extensive clinical application outlook in medicine.

CLC Number: