title: Response of human fibroblasts to tantalum and titanium in cell culture.
abstract: The loosening of total joint arthroplasties (TKA) with associated osteolysis has been a persistent problem in orthopaedics. Wear debris from prosthetic devices including Titanium (Ti) is involved in this process. Mechanisms for this osteolytic process are unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the biological response of Ti and Tantalum (Ta) on retrieved human fibroblasts. Fibroblasts were retrieved from human volunteers and cultured using standard techniques. Twenty-five (25) ml culture flasks were seeded with cells and when reaching confluency four concentrations of Ti and Ta were added. Their mean size was less than 3 microns for both metals and gram weights were 0.0048. 0.0096, 0.048, and 0.096 gms. After ten (10) days the cells were fixed, stained and photographed. For both Ti and Ta, the lowest concentration had little effect on the cells, while at the two higher concentrations, nearly all of the cell were killed. Since both of the metals tested are considered to be inert with respect to toxicity, these results would suggest that the observed cell death, seen equally for both metals, was due to the size and concentration of the particles and not to the metals tested. Mechanisms are currently being investigated which include mechanical as well as chemical factors.
authors.affiliation: Walter A. Hoyt, Jr. Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Summa Health System, Akron, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mostardi
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Meerbaum
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kovacik
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Gradisar
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis; D013635:Tantalum / Q000633:toxicity*; D014025:Titanium / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D013635:Tantalum; D014025:Titanium