title: Biocompatibility and bone tissue compatibility of alumina ceramics reinforced with carbon nanotubes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) remarkably improves the mechanical characteristics of base materials. CNT/alumina ceramic composites are expected to be highly functional biomaterials useful in a variety of medical fields. Biocompatibility and bone tissue compatibility were studied for the application of CNT/alumina composites as biomaterials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inflammation reactions in response to the composite were as mild as those of alumina ceramic alone in a subcutaneous implantation study. In bone implantation testing, the composite showed good bone tissue compatibility and connected directly to new bone. An in vitro cell attachment test was performed for osteoblasts, chondrocytes, fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, and CNT/alumina composite showed cell attachment similar to that of alumina ceramic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Owing to proven good biocompatibility and bone tissue compatibility, the application of CNT/alumina composites as biomaterials that contact bone, such as prostheses in arthroplasty and devices for bone repair, are expected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Asahi 3-1-1, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuhide
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogihara
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Nobuyo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishigaki
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takanashi
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haniu
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogiwara
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taruta
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D002118:Calcium