Question

Human osteoblasts were observed to selectively adhere to nanophase Ti6Al4V metal

implants (ASTM F136, particle size = 0.5-1.4 μm) at the particle boundaries. What is the

likely reason for this reported finding?

Answer 1

Literature review revealed that osteoblasts showed significant increase in function when adhered to nanophase when compared with conventional ceramics (alumina, hydroxyapatite etc.), polymers (polyurethane) and carbon nanotubes. Nanophase Ti6Al4V metals are exceptional materials that imitate magnitude of constituent elements of bone since they have particle size of 0.5-1.4 μm.

In vitro studies exhibited that osteoblasts adhesion on Ti6Al4V metal showed significant increase in adhesion compared to conventional metal because additional particle boundaries are present on the surface of Ti6Al4V metal compared to conventional metals. Moreover, osteoblast adhesion occurred specially at surface particle boundaries for both nanophase and conventional metals.

As osteoblasts adhesion is a obligatory requirement for successive functions (deposition of calcium-containing mineral), therefore, nanophase Ti6Al4V metal is considered for orthopedic implant applications.