In Vitro Degradability, Microstructural Evaluation, and Biocompatibility of Zn-Ti-Cu-Ca-P Alloy

Navaneethakrishnan Gopal; Parameswaran Palaniyandi; Palanisamy Ramasamy; Hitesh Panchal; Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim; Mohammad S Alsoufi; Ammar H Elsheikh

doi:10.3390/nano12081357

In Vitro Degradability, Microstructural Evaluation, and Biocompatibility of Zn-Ti-Cu-Ca-P Alloy

Nanomaterials (Basel). 2022 Apr 15;12(8):1357. doi: 10.3390/nano12081357.

Authors

Navaneethakrishnan Gopal¹, Parameswaran Palaniyandi¹, Palanisamy Ramasamy², Hitesh Panchal³, Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud Ibrahim⁴, Mohammad S Alsoufi⁵, Ammar H Elsheikh⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, K. Ramakrishnan College of Technology, Tiruchirappalli 621112, India.
² Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 603203, India.
³ Mechanical Engineering Department, Government Engineering College, Patan, Gujarat 384265, India.
⁴ Production Engineering and Mechanical Design Department, Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, Minya 61519, Egypt.
⁵ Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Islamic Architecture, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Production Engineering and Mechanical Design Department, Faculty of Engineering, Tanta University, Tanta 31733, Egypt.

Abstract

According to the modern era, zinc is one of the best replacements for human bio-implants due to its acceptable degradation, nominal degradable rate, and biocompatibility. However, alloying zinc with other nutrient metals is mandatory to improve the mechanical properties. In this research, Zn-4Ti-4Cu was alloyed with calcium and phosphorous through a powder metallurgical process to make guided bone regeneration (GBR). First, the sintering temperature of the alloy was found with the usage of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Tensile and compression tests showed the suitability of the alloy in strength. The microstructural characteristics were provided with EDS and SEM. The different phases of the alloy were detected with X-ray diffraction (XRD). We can clearly depict the precipitates formed and the strengthening mechanism due to titanium addition. An electrochemical corrosion (ECM) test was carried out with simulated body fluid (Hank's solution) as the electrolyte. Cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance properties were studied and discussed.

Keywords: Zn-Ti; biodegradation; cell viability; corrosion; cytocompatibility; microstructure.