SiNtx Technologies Inc (SINT)

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Local Cellular Responses to Titanium Dioxide from Orthopedic Implants

Resulting shifts in bone homeostasis may increase bone resorption and lead to clinical incidents of osteolysis, implant loosening, and joint pain. TiO2 particles that enter cells (through endocytosis or Trojan horse mechanism) may further disrupt implant retention. We propose that cellular responses to titanium-based nanoparticles contribute to pathological mechanisms underlying the aseptic loosening of titanium-based metal implants.

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/biores.2017.0017

Additionally, wear and corrosion resistances of Ti-based materials are higher than those of the other two materials because of natural TiO2 formation on the Ti-based surface. Although TiO2 is bioinert in physiological environments, Ti-based implants often fail after 10–20 years of service. Failure modes include bone fracture around the implanted materials (due to lower elastic modulus of bone than that of the implant), wear or corrosion of the implant, inflammation, and infection [4]. Moreover, naturally formed TiO2 has low osteoconduction 5, 6, which causes implant loosening leading to failure 7.

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jnm/2016/9143969/