Russia has developed a biocompatible alloy that is identical to that of bone tissue

Firmetal, 2018-01-1 11:37:31 PM

Russian national technology research university "alloy of iron and steel institute in Moscow," said in a news release, the school's researchers with Canada jointly developed an elasticity and shape memory alloy is identical to that of bone tissue, they are made up of zirconium, titanium niobium alloy with biocompatibility, due to its biomechanical properties of the alloy can greatly prolong the service life of medical implants.

The most common bone replacement in recent years has been titanium implants. However, there is a problem with the use of titanium implants, and for all their biomechanical properties, they are less flexible than bones. This difference often leads to the destruction of mechanical biological balance in the body. Bone tissue cells die from the burden of implants because they are more rigid. As a result, the implant and the bone's mechanical contact disappeared, and the implant became loose and needed to be replaced.

Like previous titanium alloys, titanium zirconium niobium has a stable effect on corrosive environments like the human body. Coupled with biomechanical compatibility, the new alloy implants become more durable. When it comes to the practical application of the alloy, the international team is currently CONMET company cooperation with industrial partners, club-shaped metal production into round billet, including blank to make use of pressure at high temperature of all kinds of processing. The round rod will be used to produce vertebral pedicle fixation beams for treatment of complex scoliosis. In use process, made of zirconium, titanium niobium alloy beam under the condition of the expansion deformation is still has a long service life, the characteristics of fatigue resistance, and due to its low hardness, reduces the risk of injury patients, and improve patient quality of life.

This new super-elastic alloy can also be used for personalized medicine. Russian researchers already have a powdered titanium zirconium and niobium alloy that makes the specified ingredients, using the current 3D printing technology to create a metal implant that is loose enough to meet the required requirements.