Materials Science Forum Vols. 706-709

Abstract: It is of great interest in tissue engineering the role of collagen gel-based structures (scaffolds, grafts and-by cell seeded and maturation-tissue equivalents (TEs) for several purposes). It is expected the appropriate biological compatibility when the extracellular matrix (ECM) is collagen-based. Regarding the mechanical properties (MP), great efforts in tissue engineering are focused in tailoring TE properties by controlling ECM composition and organization. When cells are seeded, the collagen network is remodeled by cell-driven compaction and consolidation, produced mainly through the mechanical stimuli that can be directed selecting the geometry and the surfaces exposed to the cells. Collagen gels have different (chemical and mechanical) properties depending on their origin and preparation conditions. The MP of the collagen network are derived from the degree of cross-linking (CLD) which can be modified by different treatments. One of the techniques to evaluate MP in the network is by ultrasound (US). In this work we analyse the effect of several mechanical constraints (similar to that imposed to promote cell growth on certain sample surfaces, when seeded) on samples of gelatin with a specific geometry (thick walls cylinders) under loading conditions of pulsatile flow. We checked US parameters and estimates evolution of the network structure for different restrictions in the sample mobility. It was implemented by adapting devices specially built to measure elastic properties of biological tissues by US. The material (origin and purity) and the preparation conditions for the gelatin were selected in order to compare the results with those of literature.

Abstract: Metastable beta-titanium alloys combine exceptionally low Young's modulus and high biocompatibility, thus attracting special interest in the prospect of their application as biomedical implant material. In this work, Ti-21.8Nb-6Zr (at.%) ingots were manufactured by vacuum argon melting followed by hot isothermal pressing. The obtained ingots were thermomechanically processed using the following TMP sequence: a) cold rolling (CR) from e=0.37 to 2 of the logarithmic thickness reduction; and b) post-deformation annealing (PDA) of between 450 and 700°C (10’…5 h for 600°C and 1 h for other temperatures). The influence of the TMP on the alloy’s mechanical properties under static and cyclic loading was studied.

Abstract: Collagen hydrogels are widely used as three-dimensional scaffolds for cells and tissue in culture environments. These materials, which consist of crosslinked biopolymer (protein-based) networks in aqueous media, are particularly suitable for recreating part of the extra-cellular matrix, but their poor mechanical properties represent a major limitation. One strategy to enhance the strength of this kind of hydrogels might be to incorporate clay nanoscopic particles. In fact, it has been observed that the charged surface of clay nanosheets can interact with certain functional groups belonging to polymer molecules, yielding stronger networks. Moreover, clay particles are recognized to be biocompatible. In the present work, the gelation process and the resulting morphological and mechanical properties of collagen/laponite clay nanocomposite hydrogels were invastigated. Upon gelation, the biopolymer molecules assemble into nanoscale fibrils, which bundle into fibers and entangle into a three-dimensional network. The network characteristics depend on tunable parameters such as pH and clay concentration.

Abstract: This paper reports on two examples of biomedical applications of ceramic nanoparticles. Thanks to their physical and chemical inertia, barium titanate nanoparticles and boron nitride nanotubes have been proved to have an optimal in vitro biocompatibility, even at high concentrations. Barium titanate nanoparticles-doxorubicin composites are successfully internalized by cancer cells, and allow for a considerable enhancement of drug up-take. Conversely, boron nitride nanotubes are explored as “nanotransducers”, thanks to their excellent piezoelectric properties. These two examples encourage further investigations and applications in biology and medicine of ceramic nanomaterials, that exhibit interesting advantages respect to traditional materials.

Abstract: Compression tests are carried out at high-temperature on Thermec-master Z, followed by gas quench. Microstructures after deformation are evaluated using SEM-EBSD. Significant grain refinement occurs by dynamic recrystallization for high temperature and low strain rate (T>1100°C, SR<0.1s^-1), and at high strain rate (SR~10s^-1). Dynamic recrystallization is discontinuous and takes place from the grain boundaries, leading to a necklace structure. The nucleation mechanism is most likely to be bulging of grain boundaries. However, recrystallization occurs also by rotation of annealing twins. Thereafter the twin boundaries can bulge as well. The modeling of mechanical behavior gives a fair quantification of flow softening due to dynamic recrystallization indicating the progress of dynamic recrystallization with deformation.

Abstract: Titanium implant surfaces should ideally be designed to promote the attachment of target tissue cells. At the same time they should prevent bacterial adhesion, achievable through specific modification strategies. Copper could be well-suited as an antimicrobial finish, since it combines good antimicrobial properties with a certain bio-tolerance with regard to eukaryotic cells. In the present contribution, we evaluate electrochemical results of antimicrobial titanium surfaces generated by the insertion of copper. The surface was prepared via copper implantation into the titanium subsurface by means of plasma-immersion ion implantation (Cu-PIII) until a depth of about 30 nm. The amount and profile of copper ion implantation was changed by variation of the pulse length which was equivalent to the duty cycles of 0.2 % up to 90 %. Specimens containing 3 – 12 % copper (XPS) were used for electrochemical investigations with the help of the mini cell system in 0.9 % NaCl solution. The change in the shape of cyclic voltammograms demonstrated an alteration of the electrochemical behaviour. Copper oxidation peaks appeared in copper-implanted samples and their height was proportional to the copper concentration. These peaks are related to an electrochemical activity and not suppressed by the superficial titanium oxidation.

Abstract: The preferred crystallographic orientation of the biological apatite (BAp) c-axis has been shown to be one of the important bone quality indices that sensitively reflect in vivo stress distribution and dominate bone mechanical functions. The BAp orientation is expected to be regulated by bone modeling or remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts whose primary functions are bone formation and absorption, respectively. Mouse with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) deficiency-induced osteopetrosis (op/op mouse) is a suitable animal model to elucidate the role of osteoclasts in the development of BAp orientation. In this study, the mandibles of 5-week-old mice were used because their mandible is subjected to complicated stresses including a biting stress locally applied just around the roots of the teeth and a bending stress applied along the mesiodistal axis of the mandibular body, and the response to the stress distribution is important to the formation of BAp orientation. The normal mouse mandible (control) has a one-dimension preferred BAp orientation in the mesiodistal direction, but just near the tooth root, the direction of BAp orientation changes locally to that of the tooth root responding to a biting stress. In the op/op mouse, the preferred BAp orientation only along the mesiodistal direction is found, but the degree is quite lower than that in normal mice. Moreover, the effect of biting was not observed in op/op mice because these mice are devoid of teeth eruption and are unable to bite. This suggests that M-CSF plays a critical role in forming the optimal BAp orientation, and therefore, the op/op mouse without osteoclasts cannot fully develop the appropriate bone microstructure in response to in vivo stress distribution, although BAp orientation is very sensitive to local in vivo stresses in normal animals with normal osteoclast function.

Abstract: Electron beam melting (EBM) is a promising fabrication technique for directly producing metal products from powder as the starting material. Powders are provided as a thin layer (~100 μm) and melted layer by layer with an electron beam. In this study, the effects of the energy density of the incident beam on the mechanical properties of Ti–6 mass% Al–4 mass% V alloy products fabricated through EBM were examined. The products were fabricated using an electron beam at various energy densities depending on the electron beam current. The microstructures and crystallographic orientations were observed using optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), respectively. Compression tests were carried out in 2 loading directions using a mechanical testing machine equipped with strain gauges, one perpendicular (x–y direction) and the other parallel (z direction) to the stacking direction. In principle, the microstructure consisted of an acicular-shaped α phase (hcp lattice) and a small-volume β phase (bcc lattice). In addition, columnar grains elongated toward the z direction appeared during the repeated melting and solidification that occurred during the EBM process. An increase in the beam current of the incident beam enlarged the α grains and increased the relative density, resulting in the related Young’s modulus of the products. The energy density caused by the beam current also introduces anisotropy in the deformation behavior depending on the loading axis toward the stacking direction. This is closely related to the cast defect arranged along the stacking layers. It was concluded that the mechanical properties of the Ti–6 mass% Al–4 mass% V alloy products formed through EBM were very sensitive to the incident beam current and stacking direction, resulting in the exhibition of anisotropic deformation behavior within a limited range of energy density.

Abstract: In this work, Ti-23Nb-0.7Ta-2Zr (TNTZ) and “Gum Metal” Ti-23Nb-0.7Ta-2Zr-1.2O (TNTZ-O) alloys were synthesized by cold crucible levitation melting (CCLM) with the objective to investigate the influence of oxygen on the deformation mechanisms. By tensile tests and EBSD analyses, we showed that the deformation in the TNTZ-O alloy is only accommodated by dislocation slip. Thus, the addition of oxygen leads to suppress the formation of α” martensite and prevents the twinning deformation mechanism.

Abstract: Magnesium and magnesium alloys, as biomaterials, possess many properties that are superior to those of other metals. However, magnesium and magnesium alloys have strong chemical activity and porous and brittle surface oxide film, as degradable implantation materials, their degradation rates are too fast. Hydroxyapatite (HA) has good biocompatibility and biological activity and has become one of the replacement materials of biomedical stiff hemopoietic tissue, but the application of HA biomaterial is hindered because HA is brittle and has low strength. Integrating good mechanical properties of metallic materials with excellent biological performance of HA, the composite obtained by coating HA to the surface of metallic matrix is ideal rehabilitation material of bone tissue. In the present study, a new Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr (wt%) was designed according to the requirements of biocompatibility. The microstructures and the mechanical properties of the new alloy were investigated by experiment. The excellent mechanical properties fully meet the service requirements of human bone tissue for mechanical property. Flat and dense hydroxyapatite coating was prepared on the surface of magnesium alloy matrix by preceding alkali heat treatment, electrodeposition and post alkali heat treatment. The Structure and constituent of HA coating and the biodegradation behavior of HA-coated Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr (wt%) alloy were evaluated. Resuls showed that the degradation rate of HA-coated Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr (wt%) alloy in SBF biomimetic solution decreased obviously and tended to be stable after 10 days. As degradable implantation materials, HA-coated Mg-4.0Zn-1.0Ca-0.6Zr (wt%) alloy fully meets the service requirements of human bone tissue.