Surface Modified β-Ti-18Mo-6Nb-5Ta (wt%) Alloy for Bone Implant Applications: Composite Characterization and...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Engineering
• Orthopedic Research

Background:

• Commercially available Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy is widely used for bone implants.
• Concerns regarding the toxicity of vanadium and aluminum in Ti-6Al-4V have driven the development of alternative alloys.
• Al- and V-free beta-titanium (β-Ti) alloys offer potential for improved biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel Al- and V-free β-Ti alloy (Ti-18Mo-6Nb-5Ta) for bone implant applications.
• To enhance the surface properties of the new alloy through calcium phosphate (CaP) electrodeposition.
• To evaluate the cytocompatibility and cell proliferation of the modified alloy for orthopedic applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of Ti-18Mo-6Nb-5Ta alloy using arc melting.
• Characterization of alloy phase, mechanical properties (Young's modulus, hardness), and corrosion behavior.
• Surface modification via electrodeposition of CaP coatings with controlled Ca/P ratio and post-treatment.
• Evaluation of coating thickness using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
• Assessment of cytocompatibility and cell adhesion using Saos-2 osteosarcoma cell line.

Main Results:

• The fabricated Ti-18Mo-6Nb-5Ta alloy exhibited a single β-phase structure.
• The new alloy demonstrated superior mechanical properties and comparable corrosion resistance to Ti-6Al-4V.
• Uniform CaP coatings (Ca/P ratio 1.47, ~5 μm thickness) were successfully electrodeposited and post-treated.
• CaP-modified Ti-18Mo-6Nb-5Ta showed enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation compared to the bare alloy.
• The modified alloy outperformed CaP-coated Ti-6Al-4V in terms of cell proliferation.

Conclusions:

• Ti-18Mo-6Nb-5Ta is a promising Al- and V-free β-Ti alloy with favorable mechanical and corrosion properties for bone implants.
• Surface modification with electrodeposited CaP significantly enhances the biocompatibility and osteogenic potential of the new alloy.
• The developed CaP-coated Ti-18Mo-6Nb-5Ta biomaterial presents a superior alternative to current Ti-6Al-4V implants, particularly for promoting bone cell growth.