Diffusion of Metal into Bone Tissue

In the field of regenerative medicine, the biocompatibility of materials is evaluated for research and development of materials for medical use. For example, while titanium alloys for medical use are very strong and have excellent corrosion and thermal resistance properties, concerns remain with respect to the compatibility of these materials with bone tissue relative to conventional materials for medical use.

Recently, low rigidity titanium alloys that possess good compatibility have been developed and are expected to be used for medical purposes.

Under such situation, when the diffusion of manganese (Mn) into bone tissue was examined using an electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) after implantation of a Ti 12Mn low rigidity titanium alloy (binary alloy) and a ,commercially pure titanium alloy in rabbit bone tissue, very small quantities of Mn were found in the bone tissue surrounding the metal implant. While bone tissue already contains a very small quantity of Mn, the effect of this leakage on subject health is being investigated.