Histomorphometric assessments of peri-implant bone around Ti-Nb-Sn alloy implants with low Young's modulus

Many β-Ti alloys have been developed for, and used in, medical devices because of the corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and exceptionally low Young's modulus. The aim of the present study was to investigate the histomorphometric aspects of peri-implant bone around Ti-Nb-Sn alloy implants and compare them with those in the case of commercially pure Ti (Ti). Fluorescent morphological observations of ST-2 cells on the substrate were performed and bone morphogenesis around implants in rat femur was evaluated. There was no difference between the cell morphology on Ti and those on the Ti-Nb-Sn alloy during observation for 24 h. A comparison of the Ti-Nb-Sn alloy implant and the Ti implant showed no significant differences between the bone-to-implant contact ratios or the bone fractions. These results suggest that the biological adaptations with Ti-Nb-Sn implants during a healing period are similar to those with Ti. Ti-Nb-Sn is therefore suitable for use in dental implants.