Caracterization and in vitro study of the biocompatibility of titanium alloys for biomedical application

Abstract

The materials used for the manufacturing of surgical implants need to be biocompatible and resistant to corrosion, and provide appropriate modulus of elasticity. Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are the most used materials for this purpose, since its elasticity can be controlled by making pores and by the material of which the implant is manufactured. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of different porous samples on the osteoblast activity. It aims at characterizing chemical, morphological, structural and mechanical porous samples, fabricated with different Ti alloys. The samples will be manufactured by means of powder metallurgy, and they will be divided into five groups: a) group 1: control - commercially pure titanium; b) group 2: Ti-6Al-4V alloy (titanium-aluminium-vanadium); c) group 3: Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy (titanium-niobium-zirconium); d) group 4: Ti-35Nb alloy (niobium); e) group 5: Ti-35Nb-7Zr-5Ta alloy (titanium-niobium-zirconium-tantalum). Osteogenic cells are obtained from the calvaria of newborn rats and are cultivated on 18 samples of each group and evaluated for adhesion, cell viability (cytotoxicity), total protein content, alkaline phosphatase activity, production of TGF-²1, TNF -± and IL-6 after 3, 7 and 14 days. The formation of nodules and quantification of mineralization will be reviewed after 14 days. The results will be analyzed statistically with a significance level of 5%. (AU)