Effects of Ce on the short-term biocompatibility of Ti-Fe-Mo-Mn-Nb-Zr alloy for dental materials

Effects of Ce on the short-term biocompatibility of Ti-Fe-Mo-Mn-Nb-Zr alloy designed for implant materials were studied by acute toxicity test, hemolytic test, and MTT assay. The elements and their concentration in surface films and extraction media of Ti alloys were investigated with XPS and ICP, respectively. The primary compositions of the surface films of Ti alloys with 0.3% Ce and without Ce were TiO2 and Nb2O5. There were 0.2 mg/l Fe and 0.16 mg/l Mn in the extraction medium of Ti alloy without Ce, while 0.27 mg/l Fe and 0.87 mg/l Mn in the extraction medium of Ti alloy with 0.3% Ce. The concentrations of Fe and Mn in the medium were too low to have any significant effects on human health. There was no sign of cytotoxicity in these tests. The cytotoxicity levels of Ti alloys without Ce and with 0.3% Ce were graded 0 and 1, respectively. The hemolytic degrees of Ti alloys without Ce and with 0.3% Ce were 0.558% and 0.67%, respectively. The cells being incubated in the extraction medium were normal. These phenomena indicated that Ce was innocuous within the concentration range of this study. In addition, the hemolytic ratio and toxicity level of Ti alloy with 0.3% Ce were a little higher than that of Ti alloy without Ce. This meant that Ce would slightly increase the toxicity of Ti alloy. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers.