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Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in multiple organs induced by titanium miniplates in Wistar rats

Rodrigo Piozzi1, Daniel Araki Ribeiro, Luís Eduardo Marques Padovan

  • 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Sacred Heart, USC, Bauru, SP, Brazil.

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part A
|February 21, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Titanium miniplates used in bone repair did not cause DNA damage or organ abnormalities in rat livers, kidneys, or lungs. This study found titanium alloy implants to be safe for these vital organs in vivo.

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Toxicology
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Metallic biomaterials, including titanium alloys, are widely used for internal fixtures in human rehabilitation.
  • Concerns exist regarding metal ion release from implants due to corrosion, potentially impacting human health.
  • The sensitivity of organs like the liver, kidney, and lung to potential genotoxicity and cytotoxicity from implanted materials requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the potential for DNA damage and cytotoxicity in the liver, kidney, and lung following in vivo implantation of titanium alloy miniplates.
  • To assess the long-term effects of titanium alloy implants on organ health over 180 days.

Main Methods:

  • Titanium alloy miniplates were surgically implanted into the tibias of 18 rats.
  • Rats were divided into three groups (30, 90, and 180 days post-implantation) with a negative control group.
  • Genotoxicity was assessed using the single cell gel (comet) assay, and histopathological analysis was performed on lung, liver, and kidney tissues.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant differences in DNA damage were observed in the lung, liver, or kidney of rats with titanium implants compared to the control group (p > 0.05).
  • Histopathological examination revealed no significant morphological alterations in the evaluated organs across all experimental groups.
  • The results indicate a lack of genotoxic or cytotoxic effects from the titanium alloy miniplates in the studied organs.

Conclusions:

  • Titanium alloy miniplates used as internal fixture materials do not appear to induce significant DNA damage in the liver, kidney, or lung.
  • The implantation of titanium miniplates in vivo did not lead to observable morphological abnormalities in these vital organs.
  • These findings suggest that titanium alloy implants are safe concerning genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in the evaluated organs.

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