Titanium-protein nanocomposites as new biomaterials produced by high-pressure torsion

Abstract

The development of new biomaterials with outstanding mechanical properties and high biocompatibility has been a significant challenge in the last decades. Nanocrystalline metals have provided new opportunities in producing high-strength biomaterials, but the biocompatibility of these nanometals needs to be improved. In this study, we introduce metal-protein nanocomposites as high-strength biomaterials with superior biocompatibility. Small proportions of bovine serum albumin (2 and 5 vol%), an abundant protein in the mammalian body, are added to titanium, and two nanocomposites are synthesized using a severe plastic deformation process of high-pressure torsion. These new biomaterials show not only a high hardness similar to nanocrystalline pure titanium but also exhibit better biocompatibility (including cellular metabolic activity, cell cycle parameters and DNA fragmentation profile) compared to nano-titanium. These results introduce a pathway to design new biocompatible composites by employing compounds from the human body.

Materials Informatics Approach to Cu/Nb Nanolaminate Microstructure Correlations with Yield Strength and Electrical Conductivity

“…The current research varied only the spatial distribution of the two phases, without considering the crystal grain geometries and crystallographic orientation. It is well known that finer grain size increases strength [42][43][44][45] . Experimental reports indicate that crystalline texture affect mechanical strength, resulting in anisotropy in static strength and fatigue life 9,13 .…”

Effects of Severe Plastic Deformation on Advanced Biomaterials for Biomedical Applications: A Brief Overview

“…117,118) Although coating with proteins is effective to improve surface biocompatibility, the weak connection of protein to the metallic implant can result in delamination and failure of the implant within long-term use. 119,120) Floriano et al 93) introduced metal-protein nanocomposites as new biomaterials with high strength and good biocompatibility. The metal-protein composites were composed of titanium with small amounts of an endogenous protein such as 2 and 5 vol% of BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin).…”

“…91,92) Another example of the new generation of advanced biomaterials is the synthesis of metal-protein composites as a new family of biomaterials by means of HPT which exhibit excellent mechanical properties and high biocompatibility. 93) This overview highlights the effects of SPD techniques on advanced biomaterials with a focus on titanium and its alloys, HEAs and metal-protein composites. With this overview, we intend to explore the key aspects of the microstructure refinement of biomedical materials that can justify the enhancement of mechanical properties and biocompatibility.…”

“…Fig. 4 (a) Vickers Microhardness and (b) MTT cell viability assayexamined by light absorbance at 570 nm for pure titanium and for nanocomposites containing 2 and 5 vol% of BSA produced by 5 turns of HPT under 2 GPa in comparison with hardness of coarse-grained annealed titanium 93). …”

Effects of High-Pressure Torsion on Mechanical Properties of Biocompatible Ti–6Al–7Nb Alloy

“…The results revealed that the Ti5 vol% bovine serum albumin nanocomposites showed good biocompatibility with nano-level grain refinement of Ti. 58) Superplasticity is the ability of a polycrystalline material to exhibit very high tensile elongations before failure, and in general, a finer grain size improves the superplastic flow. Superplastic forming is an attractive option for manufacturing complex-shaped components in the medical and biomaterial fields, particularly in the dental field, such as in the fabrication of denture bases.…”