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From dentistry to surgery: How titanium revolutionized the history of medical implants?
Titanium has been used in surgery since the 1950s and in dentistry as early as a decade ago. Today, it is the metal of choice for prosthetics, internal fixation devices, internal body equipment and surgical instruments. Titanium is used in everything from neurosurgery to bone conduction hearing aids, prosthetic eye implants, spinal fusion cages, pacemakers, toe implants, and shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee replacements. .
Titanium's high biocompatibility, combined with its modified bioactive surface, makes it an ideal choice for medical implants.
One of titanium's main properties is its biocompatibility, which allows it to remain in the body for long periods of time without causing rejection. This property is due in part to the protective oxide film that titanium naturally forms in the presence of oxygen. This film is strongly adherent, insoluble, and chemically impermeable, thus preventing reactions between the material and its surroundings.
Biocompatibility
Titanium is considered the most biocompatible metal, thanks to its corrosion resistance and good adhesion to living organisms. In addition, titanium has an excellent fatigue limit and can withstand the harsh environment in the human body. These properties make titanium an ideal material for biomedical implants.
Titanium not only allows cells to attach, but also promotes the formation of new blood vessels, an important step in the successful osseointegration process.
Interaction and reproduction of osseointegration
Titanium's bone integration ability comes from the high dielectric constant of its surface oxide film, which enables titanium to physically combine with bone tissue rather than relying solely on adhesives. Titanium implants last longer than other materials and require greater force to break the connection with the bone.
Surface Energy
Surface properties play a key role in the cellular response of biomaterials. The microstructure and high surface energy of titanium enable it to induce the formation of new blood vessels, thus aiding the process of osseointegration.
The mechanical properties and stability of the titanium oxide film ensure that it maintains good reactivity in physiological environments.
Depends on surface modification
Titanium has a unique oxide film layer, and its surface properties change after contact with the body environment, further promoting biocompatibility. Alloying of titanium with Ti-Zr and Ti-Nb not only prevents corrosion but also maintains biocompatibility.
Appropriate protein surface concentration is key to promoting good attachment between cells and implants.
Adsorption and corrosion
Despite its high reactivity in the body, titanium is not impervious to corrosion. Further research found that under certain conditions, titanium alloys can suffer from hydrogen embrittlement, which can cause the material to fail. Avoiding substances with high fluoride concentrations in dental products can reduce the risk to implants.
Cell affinity
After the implant is placed, the cells react to the foreign substances with a sensitivity that usually triggers an inflammatory response. If this reaction is too strong, it may interfere with the function of the implanted device. Therefore, designing titanium implants with bioactive surfaces is crucial to achieve better integration and reduce the chance of infection.
The improved titanium surface can enhance integration and reduce rejection, bringing better treatment outcomes to patients.
The medical industry is facing a revolutionary change due to the excellent performance of titanium in medical implants. With the advancement of science, titanium has unlimited potential in biomedical materials in the future, which has triggered our thinking about future medical technology: In the next step of the medical revolution, what new materials will we witness?
