Biosafety, stability, and osteogenic activity of novel implants made of Zr70Ni16Cu6Al8 bulk metallic glass for biomedical application

Abstract

Superior mechanical and chemical properties of Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ bulk metallic glass (BMG) demonstrate its promise as a novel biomaterial for fabrication of implants. The aim of the present study was to validate mechanical, chemical, and biological properties of Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG through comparison with titanium (Ti). Our data indicated higher tensile strength, lower Young's modulus, and reduced metal ion release of Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG compared with Ti. Biosafety of bone marrow mesenchymal cells on Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG was comparable to that of Ti. Next, screw-type implant prototypes made of Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG were fabricated and inserted into rat long bones. Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG implants indicated a higher removal-torque value and lower Periotest value compared with Ti implants. In addition, higher amounts of new bone formation and osseointegration were observed around Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG implants compared with Ti implants. Moreover, gene expression analysis displayed higher expression of osteoblast- and osteoclast-associated genes in the Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG group compared with the Ti group. Importantly, loading to implants upregulated bone formation, as well as osteoblast- and osteoclast-associated gene expression in the peri-implant area. No significant difference in concentrations of Ni, Al, Cu, and Zr in various organs was shown between in the Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG and Ti groups. Collectively, these findings suggest that Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG is suitable for fabricating novel implants with superior mechanical properties, biocompatibility, stability, and biosafety compared with Ti.

Statement of significance: Titanium is widely used to fabricate orthopedic and dental implants. However, Titanium has disadvantages for biomedical applications in regard to strength, elasticity, and biosafety. Recently, we developed a novel hypoeutectic Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG, which has superior mechanical and chemical properties. However, the validity of Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG for biomedical application has not been cleared. The aim of the present study was to validate the mechanical, chemical, and biological properties of Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG for biomedical applications through comparison with Titanium. The present study clarifies that Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG has good mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and osteogenic activity, which are necessary features for biomedical applications. The present study provides for the first time the superiority of Zr₇₀Ni₁₆Cu₆Al₈ BMG implants to Titanium implants for biomedical applications.

Keywords: Biocompatibility; Biosafety; Bulk metallic glass; Implants; Osteogenic activity.