Author:

Keywords:

biocompatibility, implant, nickel toxicity, nitinol, porous shape-memory alloy, porous nickel-titanium, shape-memory alloy, soft-tissue, stent, corrosion, responses, grafts, model, Science & Technology, Technology, Materials Science, Multidisciplinary, Materials Science, Nitinol, POROUS NICKEL-TITANIUM, SHAPE-MEMORY ALLOY, SOFT-TISSUE, STENT, CORROSION, RESPONSES, IMPLANT, GRAFTS, MODEL, 0306 Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural), 0912 Materials Engineering, Materials, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, 4016 Materials engineering

Abstract:

The shape memory effect, superelasticity, good wear and damping properties make the nickel-titanium shape memory alloy (NiTi) a fascinating material for many surgical applications. It provides a possibility to make self-locking, -expanding and -compressing implants. As porous NiTi has elastic modulus near the bone tissue, it may also be a appropriate candidate as a bone substitute material. Theoretically, biocompatibility problems may arise because of high nickel content of NiTi. To estimate the in vivo biocompatibility it is essential to do testing and analyzing in different tissues as the environmental conditions (pH, electrolytes, protein composition etc.) inside the human body vary a lot. When certain specific applications are concern the biomechanical questions are also of great interest.