title: In vitro and in vivo performance of bioactive Ti6Al4V/TiC/HA implants fabricated by a rapid microwave sintering technique.
abstract: Failure of the bone-implant interface in a joint prosthesis is a main cause of implant loosening. The introduction of a bioactive substance, hydroxyapatite (HA), to a metallic bone-implant may enhance its fixation on human bone by encouraging direct bone bonding. Ti6Al4V/TiC/HA composites with a reproducible porous structure (porosity of 27% and pore size of 6-89 μm) were successfully fabricated by a rapid microwave sintering technique. This method allows the biocomposites to be fabricated in a short period of time under ambient conditions. Ti6Al4V/TiC/HA composites exhibited a compressive strength of 93 MPa, compressive modulus of 2.9 GPa and microhardness of 556 HV which are close to those of the human cortical bone. The in vitro preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on the Ti6Al4V/TiC/HA composite showed that the composite surface could provide a biocompatible environment for cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation without any cytotoxic effects. This is among the first attempts to study the in vivo performance of load-bearing Ti6Al4V/TiC and Ti6Al4V/TiC/HA composites in a live rabbit. The results indicated that the Ti6Al4V/TiC/HA composite had a better bone-implant interface compared with the Ti6Al4V/TiC implant. Based on the microstructural features, the mechanical properties, and the in vitro and in vivo test results from this study, the Ti6Al4V/TiC/HA composites have the potential to be employed in load-bearing orthopedic applications.
authors: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Man Tik
authors: MT
authors: Choy
authors: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: mfcytang@polyu.edu.hk.
authors: Chak Yin
authors: CY
authors: Tang
authors: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Chi Tak
authors: CT
authors: Wong
authors: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Chi Pong
authors: CP
authors: Tsui
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys; D000818:Animals; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008872:Microwaves; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D013977:Tibia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D018786:Bone Substitutes; C031462:titanium alloy (TiAl6V4); D017886:Durapatite; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Hydroxyapatite; In vitro test; In vivo test; Microwave; Sintering; Titanium alloy