Fibroblastic interactions with high-porosity titanium-aluminum-vanadium metal foam.

摘要

High-porosity metal foams have been one of the more recent advances in biomedical implant technology. The large surface area of these materials could be beneficial for cell attachment, and the networked pore structure allows for tissue ingrowth and possible implant fixation by soft or hard tissue. For fibrous tissue device anchorage, the potential applications include patellar implants, subcutaneous catheters, joining of ligaments or tendons, and filling of large voids.; A novel metallic Ti-6Al-4V foam in development at the National Research Council of Canada was investigated for its ability to foster cell attachment and growth using a fibroblast cell culture model. The foam was manufactured via a powder metallurgical process that could produce interconnected porosity greater than 70%. The Ti-6Al-4V discs were subjected to modification by aqueous or thermal treatment, changing surface characteristics such as wettability and oxide thickness, which could lead to improved cell attachment and faster growth. The fibroblast response to as-produced and modified substrates was measured by short-term attachment and by counting cells and determining the relative cell viability using MTT assays. Initial results using as-sintered discs and high passage NIH-3T3 fibroblasts were most favourable for the untreated control. It was necessary to improve disc strength and reduce particulate shedding, and a resintering procedure was performed on all subsequent discs. These resintered discs, when combined with high passage fibroblasts, revealed significantly more cells attached to discs treated for 60 minutes with 30% hydrogen peroxide. This surface modification was therefore selected for further study in longer-term in vitro studies. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)