title: Investigation of nickel suppression and cytocompatibility of surface-treated nickel-titanium shape memory alloys by using plasma immersion ion implantation.
abstract: Nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloys are increasingly being used in orthopedic applications. However, there is a concern that Ni is harmful to the human body. We have recently investigated the use of nitrogen, or oxygen plasma immersion ion implantation to mitigate this deleterious effect. Our results reveal that the near-surface Ni concentration in all the treated samples is significantly suppressed. In addition, our in vitro tests show that the plasma-treated surfaces are cytologically compatible allowing the attachment and proliferation of osteoblasts. Among the two types of samples, the best biological effects are found on the samples with nitrogen implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Division of Spine Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: K W K
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: R W Y
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J P Y
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: K M C
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D051379:Mice; D009532:Nickel; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C040654:titanium nickelide; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium