Zirconium-titanium-niobium-tantalum alloys promote humeral shaft fracture healing of rabbits

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2014.52.004

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Metal elements of traditional steel plates have a potential risk to the human body. Zirconium-titanium-niobium-tantalum alloy independently developed in China has some advantages such as no toxic hazard, low elastic modulus and high strength, and it provides a new train of thought for new metal implants.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of zirconium-titanium-niobium-tantalum alloy on bone healing of rabbit fracture end.

METHODS: Rabbit bilateral humeral shafts were sawed and implanted with zirconium-titanium-niobium-tantalum alloy (experimental group) and ordinary steel plate (control group), respectively. At postoperative 28, 56, 84, 112 days, stress shielding rate was tested. The biological potential of fracture end was determined before and after fracture, immediately, 14, 28, 56, 84 days after surgery. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe histological changes of samples at 7, 14, 28, 56 postoperative days under light microscope.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The stress shielding rate at each time point was lower in the experimental group than the control group (P < 0.01). After modeling of fracture, the bone biological potential was negative in the two groups; after internal fixation, the electric potential in the experimental group was reduced more significantly than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The experimental group always maintained the negative potential that exhibited less fluctuation after surgery. At 56 days after surgery, bone union was visible at the fracture end of the experimental group, the Haversian canal was reconstructed successfully, and the trabecular bone was orderly arranged parallel to the bone axis; while in the control group, woven bone tissues were visible at the fracture end, the woven bone, the trabecular bone was in disorder, and the cortical bone was partially absorbed. These findings indicate that the zirconium-titanium-niobium-tantalum alloy can promote fracture healing.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：生物材料；骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性；组织工程

全文链接：

Key words: titanium, alloys, humeral fractures

CLC Number:

R318

Yang Tie-wei, Liu Xin-wei, Liu Yun-en, Zhang Yu-biao, Zhou Da-peng, Xiang Liang-bi. Zirconium-titanium-niobium-tantalum alloys promote humeral shaft fracture healing of rabbits [J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2014, 18(52): 8382-8386.

Figures/Tables 3

2.1 实验动物数量分析 65只兔均进入结果分析。 2.2 应力遮挡率应力遮挡率在测量时间的简单效应分析(表1)：实验组术后28-84 d，应力遮挡率维持较低水平，自术后84 d开始，应力遮挡发生了增加，但基本都维持在40%水平以下；在对照组中，术后84 d之前，应力遮挡率一般能够处于80%以上，随着骨愈合的进程，应力遮挡率有所下降，但仍保持在较高水平(> 74%)。应力遮挡率在分组因素的简单效应分析(表1)：各个测试时间点中，实验组应力遮挡率较对照组低(P < 0.01)。重复测量方差分析(表2)：重复测量的结果显示，时间和分组因素在应力遮挡率上存在交互作用(P < 0.05)，即分组因素在不同时间点上的效应是不同的。当交互作用显著时，分析主效应没有实际意义，应进一步分析简单效应，即分组因素在不同时间水平的效应、时间因素在不同分组水平的效应。 2.3 骨生物电测定骨生物电在测量时间的简单效应分析(表3)：术后14 d，对照组骨生物电位出现升高，术后56 d基本能够升高到接近正常电位的水平；实验组术后电位的绝对值波动变化不明显，始终维持在负数水平，术后84 d在骨折建模处仍然可以测量到较低负骨生物电位值(P < 0.05)。骨生物电在分组因素的简单效应分析(表3)：骨折发生后，两组的电位为负值，予以内固定后电位降低，其中对照组骨折前、术后56 d和术后84 d的电位值低于实验组(P < 0.05)，且在术后56，84 d更明显。重复测量方差分析(表4)：重复测量的结果显示，时间和分组因素在骨生物电上存在交互作用(P < 0.05)，即分组因素在不同的时间点上的效应是不同的。当交互作用显著时，分析主效应没有实际意义，应进一步分析简单效应，即分组因素在不同时间水平的效应、时间因素在不同分组水平的效应。 2.4 苏木精-伊红染色观察术后第7天和第14天两组镜下表现较为相似：术后第7天，骨折端部位仍以血肿、机化的组织为主；术后第14天，肉芽组织形成并逐渐生成纤维结缔组织，将骨折的两端进行纤维连接。术后28 d，两组均可见骨内、外膜增生，新生血管长入，成骨细胞大量增生，在骨折端内外形成新骨，骨折断端间及髓腔内纤维组织逐渐钙化成骨，在骨折处形成环状骨痂和髓内骨痂；实验组在部分区域已经可以发现哈佛氏管再通，骨性组织已经部分形成；对照组骨折端未见明显再通的哈弗氏管，可见较多的结缔组织细胞骨小梁呈无序状态，以皮质外骨痂连接为主。术后56 d，实验组骨折端可见骨性连接形成，哈佛氏管重建较好，骨小梁排列有序且与骨轴向较为平行；对照组骨折端可见编织骨，骨小梁排列较实验组无序，皮质骨部分骨吸收(图1)。"

References

[1] Hieda J,Niinomi M,Nakai M,et al. Adhesive strength of medical polymer on anodic oxide nanostructures fabricated on biomedical β-type titanium alloy.Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl.2014;36:244-251.

[2] B?rbîn?? AC,Luca D,Strugaru SI,et al.New Titanium Alloys Potentially Used for Metal-Ceramic Applications in Medicine. Key Eng Mater.2014;587:287-292.

[3] Nie L,Zhan Y,Hu T,et al.β-Type Zr–Nb–Ti biomedical materials with high plasticity and low modulus for hard tissue replacements.J Mech Behav Biomed Mater.2014;29:1-6.

[4] Xu J,Weng XJ,Wang X,et al. Potential Use of Porous Titanium–Niobium Alloy in Orthopedic Implants: Preparation and Experimental Study of Its Biocompatibility In Vitro. PloS One.2013;8(11):e79289.

[5] Wei Q,Wang L,Fu Y,et al.Influence of oxygen content on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti–Nb–Ta–Zr alloy. Mater Des.2011;32(5):2934-2939.

[6] 康庆林,张春才,高堂成. 天鹅记忆接骨器对骨折愈合中骨生物电的影响[J].中华创伤杂志,2004,20(6):359-362.

[7] Vahter M,Berglund M,Akesson A, et al. Metals and women’s health. Environ Res. 2002;A88:145-155.

[8] Denkhaus AK,Salnikow K.Nickel essentiality, toxicity, and carcinogenicity. Crit Rev Oncol Hemato-2002;(42):35-56.

[9] Geetha M,Singh AK,Muraleedharan K,et al. Effect of thermomechanical processing on microstructure of a Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy.J Alloy Compd.2001;329(1/2):264-271.

[10] Kim JI,Kim HY,Hosoda H,et al. Shape memory behavior of Ti-22Nb-(0.5-2.0)O(at%) biomedical alloys. Mater Trans.2005; 46(4):852-857.

[11] Zheng YF,Wang BL,Wang JG,et al.Corrosion behaviour of Ti-Nb-Sn shape memory alloys in different simulated body solutions.Mater Sci Eng A.2006;438-440(n SPEC ISS): 891-895.

[12] Sakaguchi R,Niinomi M,Akahori T,et al.Relationships between tensile deformation behavior and microstructure in Ti-Nb-Ta-Tr systerm alloys.Mater Sci Eng C. 2005; 25(3): 363-369.

[13] Miyazaki S, Kim HY,Hosoda H.Development and characterization of Ni-free Ti-base shape memory and superelastic alloys. Mater Sci Eng A.2006;438/440:18-24.

[14] Kim HY,Sasaki T,Okutsu K,et al.Texture and shape memory behavior of Ti-22Nb-6Ta alloy. Acta Mater.2006;54(2): 423-433.

[15] Zhang LC, Zhou T, Alpay SP, et al. Origin of pseudoelastic behavior in Ti-Mo-based alloys.Appl Phys Lett.2005;87(12): 241909.

[16] Ahmed TA,Long M,Silverstri J,et al.A new low modulus biocompatible titanium alloy. Titanium 1995, Science and Technology, Birmingham, UK,1996:1760.

[17] Hao YL,Niinomi M,Kuroda,et al.Young’s modulus and mechanical properties of Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr in relation to α〃 martensite . Metall Mater Trans A.2002;33A:3137-3144.

[18] Wang L,Lu W, Qin J,et al.Microstructure and mechanical properties of cold-rolled TiNbTaZr biomedical β titanium alloy. Mater Sci Eng A.2008;490:421-426.

[19] Wang L,Lu W,Qin J,et al.Texture and superelastic behavior of cold-rolled TiNbTaZr alloy.Mater Sci Eng A.2008;491: 372-377.

[20] Wang L,Lu W,Qin J,et al.Change in microstructures and mechanical properties of biomedical Ti-Nb-Ta-Zr system alloy through cross-rolling.Mater Trans JIM.2008;49(8):1791-1795.

[21] Wang L,Lu W,Qin J,et al.Influence of cold deformation on martensite transformation and mechanical properties of Ti-Nb-Ta-Zr alloy.J Alloy Compd.2009; 469:512-518.