On the properties of two binary NiTi shape memory alloys. Effects of surface finish on the corrosion behaviour and in vitro biocompatibility

Investigation of Bruxism wear behavior of titanium alloy biomaterials; experimental and 3D finite element simulation

Bruxism can be defined as the process of direct contact with teeth and dental materials with an involuntary jaw-tightening movement. In this process, teeth and dental materials can be exposed to various damage mechanisms. This study aims to realize the mechanism of bruxism with finite element analysis and in vitro rotating chewing movement analysis. Within the scope of the study, cp-Ti, Ti-5Zr, and Ti-5Ta materials were subjected to wear tests in the finite element analysis and in vitro rotating chewing movement method under the determined Bruxism chewing test conditions. Test specimens with cylindrical geometry were exposed to a direct every-contact wear mechanism for 30 s under 150 N bruxism chewing bite force. The bruxism chewing cycle continued for 300 min at a frequency of 2 Hz. Microanalysis of the wear surfaces of the samples after the experimental study was carried out with Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results obtained within the scope of this study showed that the Bruxism wear resistance increased by adding zirconium and tantalum to pure titanium material. This result shows that pure titanium material, which is known to have poor wear resistance, can be improved with Zr and Ta alloys. It is clinically important that the success rate in the treatment process increases with the increase in wear resistance. However, the micro-cracks observed in the microstructure may have occurred in the sub-surface, which is a show of the fatigue wear mechanism.

Nanotopography Evaluation of NiTi Alloy Exposed to Artificial Saliva and Different Mouthwashes

Nitinol (NiTi) alloy is a widely used material for the production of orthodontic archwires. Its corrosion behavior in conditions that exist in the oral cavity still remains a great characterization challenge. The motivation behind this work is to reveal the influence of commercially available mouthwashes on NiTi orthodontic archwires by performing non-electrochemical corrosion tests and quantifying the changes in the nanotopography of commercially available NiTi orthodontic wires. In this study, we examined the behavior of NiTi alloy archwires exposed for 21.5 days to different corrosive media: artificial saliva, Eludril^®, Aquafresh^®, and Listerine^®. The corrosion was characterized by contact mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) before and after the corrosion tests. A novel analysis methodology was developed to obtain insight into locations of material gain or material loss based on standard surface roughness parameters Sa, Sdr, Ssk, and S10z. The developed methodology revealed that fluoride-containing mouthwashes (Aquafresh^® and Listerine^®) dominantly cause material loss, while chloride-containing mouthwash (Eludril^®) can cause both material loss and material gain. The sample exposed to artificial saliva did not display significant changes in any parameter.

A Critical Appraisal of the Use and Properties of Nickel-Titanium Dental Alloys

Nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires are used in dentistry for orthodontic treatment. NiTi alloys have favourable mechanical characteristics, such as superelasticity and shape memory, and are also known as a corrosion-resistant alloy. In specific cases, an archwire could be attacked by certain types of corrosion or wear degradation, which can cause the leaching of metal ions and a hypersensitive response due to increased concentrations of Ni in the human body. A systematic search of the literature retrieved 102 relevant studies. The review paper focuses on three main fields: (i) electrochemical properties of NiTi wires and the effect of different environments on the properties of NiTi wires (fluoride and low pH); (ii) tribocorrosion, a combination of chemical and mechanical wear of the material, and (iii) the biocompatibility of NiTi alloy and its subsequent effect on the human body. The review showed that corrosion properties are affected by microstructure, pH of saliva and the presence of fluorides. A high variation in published results should be, therefore, interpreted with care. The release of nickel ions was assessed using the same unit, showing that the vast majority of metal ions were released in the first few days of exposure, then a stable, steady state was reached. In tribocorrosion studies, the increased concentrations of Ni ions were reported.

Corrosion resistance assessment of nickel-titanium endodontic files with and without heat treatment

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the corrosion resistance of heat-treated (Reciproc and WaveOne) and non-heat-treated (ProTaper and Mtwo) superelastic nickel-titanium endodontic files when immersed in a 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution.

Materials and Methods

Anodic polarization curves were obtained with potential sweeps that began at the open circuit potential or corrosion potential (E_corr). The pitting potential (E_pit) was identified on the anodic polarization curve as the potential at which a sudden increase in current was observed. The micromorphology of the 28 tested files was analyzed before and after the electrochemical assay using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The data were analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance with the post hoc Bonferroni test (for E_corr) and the Student t-test for independent samples (for E_pit).

Results

The mean E_corr values were 0.506 V for ProTaper, 0.348 V for Mtwo, 0.542 V for Reciproc, and 0.321 V for WaveOne files. Only WaveOne and Protaper files exhibited pitting corrosion, with E_pit values of 0.879 V and 0.904 V, respectively. On the SEM images of the ProTaper and WaveOne files, cavities suggestive of pitting corrosion were detected.

Conclusions

Signs of corrosion were observed in both heat-treated and non-heat-treated files. Of the evaluated files, WaveOne (a heat-treated file) and ProTaper (a non-heat-treated file) exhibited the lowest corrosion resistance.

Influence of lubricating conditions on the two-body wear behavior and hardness of titanium alloys for biomedical applications

Commercially pure titanium and titanium alloys are often preferred in biomedical applications due to their high biocompatibility behavior. However, the inadequate wear, fatigue and corrosion resistance of titanium alloys limit their use as a biomaterial in the human body. Furthermore, these alloys may contain such as aluminum and vanadium elements that can damage the nervous system. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of lubrication conditions on the two-body wear behavior of pure titanium, Ti-2.5Si-5Zr, Ti-5Si-5Zr, and Ti-6Al-4V using dual-axis computer-controlled wear simulator device. The mean wear volume loss of all test specimens after the two-body wear test procedures were determined to use a non-contact 3D profilometer. The alloys hardness and microstructures were evaluated using the Vickers indention method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The hardness of Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy material was significantly greater than the other alloy materials and cp-Ti. The mean wear volume loss of Ti-5Si-5Zr test specimens was lower than the other test group specimens irrespective of lubrication conditions. It was concluded, the two-body wear resistance of the alloy formed with the addition of silica to the pure titanium is increased after both wear test procedures. However, for the test materials in this study considered, correlations between the two-body wear resistance and hardness were found to be insignificant.

Ion Release and Surface Characterization of Nanostructured Nitinol during Long-Term Testing

The corrosion resistance of nanostructured nitinol (NiTi) was investigated using long-term tests in solutions simulating physiological fluids at static conditions, reflecting the material structure and metal concentration in the solutions. Mechanical polishing reduced the ion release by a factor of two to three, whereas annealing deteriorated the corrosion resistance. The depassivation and repassivation of nitinol surfaces were considered. We found that nanostructured nitinol might increase the corrosion leaching of titanium into solutions, although the nickel release decreased. Metal dissolution did not occur in the alkaline environment or artificial plasma. A Ni-free surface with a protective 25 nm-thick titanium oxide film resulted from soaking mechanically treated samples of the NiTi wire in a saline solution for two years under static conditions. Hence, the medical application of nanostructured NiTi, such as for the production of medical devices and implants such as stents, shows potential compared with microstructured NiTi.

First-Principles Calculations of Structural, Mechanical, and Electronic Properties of the B2-Phase NiTi Shape-Memory Alloy Under High Pressure

A first-principles calculation program is used for investigating the structural, mechanical, and electronic properties of the cubic NiTi shape-memory alloy (SMA) with the B2 phase under high pressure. Physical parameters including dimensionless ratio, elastic constants, Young’s modulus, bulk modulus, shear modulus, ductile-brittle transition, elastic anisotropy, and Poisson’s ratio are computed under different pressures. Results indicate that high pressure enhances the ability to resist volume deformation along with the ductility and metallic bonds, but the biggest resistances to elastic and shear deformation occur at P = 35   GPa for the B2-phase NiTi SMA. Meanwhile, the strong anisotropy produced by the high pressure will motivate the cross-slip process of screw dislocations, thereby improving the plasticity of the B2-phase NiTi SMA. Additionally, the results of the density of states (DOS) reveal that the B2-phase NiTi SMA is essentially characterized by the metallicity, and it is hard to induce the structural phase transition for the B2-phase NiTi SMA under high pressure, which provides valuable guidance for designing and applying the NiTi SMA under high pressure.

Combustion Synthesis Porous Nitinol for Biomedical Applications

Porous Nitinol with a three-dimensional anisotropic interconnective open pore structure has been successfully produced by the combustion synthesis (CS) of elemental Ni and Ti powders. The resulting product can be tailored to closely match the stiffness of cancellous bone to minimize stress shielding. The average elastic modulus was approximately 1 GPa for a porosity of 60 vol% and the average pore size of 100-500 µm. The low elastic modulus meets the basic demand for orthopedic bone ingrowth applications. Furthermore, porous Nitinol was composed of cubic (austenitic) and monoclinic (martensitic) NiTi compounds without the presence of Ni metal or Ni-rich phases. The resulting product exhibits excellent corrosion resistance with breakdown potentials above 750mV. An ovine study in cortical sites of the tibia demonstrated rapid osseointegration into the porous strucutre as early as two weeks and complete bone growth across the implant at six weeks. A separate ovine study showed complete through-growth of bone at four months using a lumbar interbody fusion model, substantiating the use of porous Nitinol as an implant material for applications in the spine. Porous Nitinol is thus a promising biomaterial with proven biocompatibility and exceptional osseointegration performance which may enhance the healing process and promote long-term fixation, making it a strong candidate for a wide range of orthopedic implant applications.

Cyclic fatigue resistance of three rotary file systems in a dynamic model after immersion in sodium hypochlorite

To evaluate the effect of immersion in 3% sodium hypochlorite solution in the resistance to cyclic fatigue of three nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary file systems, ProTaper Next (PTN), Hyflex CM (CM), and Hyflex EDM (EDM), in a mechanical model featuring axial movement. Ninety instruments of three different NiTi rotary file systems, PTN (size 25, 0.06 taper), CM (25, 0.06), and EDM (25/~, variable taper), were randomly divided according to a 3 × 3 factorial design and tested under dynamic immersion in a 3% NaOCl solution (1 or 5 min) or without immersion, making a total of 9 groups (n = 10). Files were tested in an artificial root canal with 45° angle and 5 mm radius apical curvature being submitted to back-and-forth movements until fracture. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way factorial ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc tests, at a significance level of 5%. Instruments were evaluated for reliability using a Weilbull approach. Regardless of the immersion treatment, PTN had on average 1200 ± 178 cycles to fracture, CM had 1949 ± 362, and EDM had 5573 ± 853, which was a significantly different (P < 0.01). The NaOCl immersion promoted a significant reduction in the mean number of cycles to fracture (P = 0.01), and was reflected in a significant reduction of the characteristic life of the instruments of the CM end EDM groups. Within this study conditions, EDM instruments performed better to cyclic fatigue followed by CM and then PTN. Immersion in NaOCl decreased the resistance to cyclic fatigue of all tested instruments, but affected more those manufactured from CM wire.

In vitro biocompatibility of orthodontic miniscrews with human gingival fibroblast and SAOS-2 osteoblast cultures

PURPOSE

Miniscrews are an important choice for orthodontic anchorage. Yet reports on failures do exist, and attempts have been made to elucidate the causes. Clinical outcomes may be compromised not only by the mechanical implications of miniscrew design and the location of anchorage but also by poor biocompatibility. Hence, this study deals with the surface roughness and elemental composition of miniscrews and how these properties may affect the in vitro biocompatibility of four commercially available miniscrews.

METHODS

Most of the currently available miniscrews are made of TiAl6V4, an alloy widely considered to be biocompatible. The samples tested in this study included four similarly dimensioned TiAl6V4 products from different manufacturers: tomas® by Dentaurum, OrthoEasy® by Forestadent®, Dual Top™ by Jeil Medical/Promedia, and LOMAS by Mondeal®. The surface properties of these products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X‑ray spectroscopy (EDX). Cytotoxicity was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and agar overlay assays according to ISO 10993-5.

RESULTS

The miniscrew products were found to show variations in surface-finish quality pertaining to topography and chemical composition, with the latter departing slightly from the manufacturers' specifications. MTT assays yielded rates of cell culture viability in excess of 90%, and agar overlay assays did not reveal decoloration beyond the specimen outlines in any of the experimental groups tested.

CONCLUSIONS

The four miniscrew products exhibited some minor, but statistically significant, differences in microtopography, alloy composition, and biological inertness. Cytotoxicity testing revealed that all four products should be considered non-cytotoxic, thus, ruling out poor biocompatibility as a cause of miniscrew failure.

In vitro and in vivo evidence of the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of metal ions released by orthodontic appliances: A review

Intraoral fixed orthodontic appliances are frequently used in the clinical practice of dentistry. They are made from alloys containing different metals at various percentages. The use of these appliances leads to the long-term exposure of patients to these materials, and the potential toxic effects of this exposure raises concerns about patient safety. Thus, the biocompatibility (corrosion behaviour and toxicity) of these materials has to be evaluated prior to clinical use. In the present report, the most recent studies in the scientific literature examining metal ion release from orthodontic appliances and the toxic effects of these ions have been reviewed with a special focus on cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Previous studies suggest that a case-by-case safety evaluation is required to take into account the increasing variability of materials, their composition and the manufacturing processes. Moreover, in vivo toxicity studies in regard to metal release, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity are still scarce. Therefore, in vitro and in vivo monitoring studies are needed to establish cause-effect relationships between metal ion release and biomarkers of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Further investigations could be performed to elucidate the toxic mechanisms involved in the observed effects with a special emphasis on oxidative damage.

Effect of thermocycling on nickel release from orthodontic arch wires: an in vitro study

The amount of daily intake of metals from orthodontic appliances over time is a matter of great concern. Nickel results in one of the most common metal-induced allergic contact dermatitis in humans; it produces more allergic reactions than all the other metals combined together. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of thermocycling on the nickel release from orthodontic arch wires stored in artificial saliva with different pH values. Forty new wire pieces were selected. Each wire piece was placed in a special capillary Pyrex tube filled with artificial saliva, which was sealed and immersed in deionized water at 37 °C. The samples were divided into four groups of ten. Group I received no treatment; group II was subjected to thermocycling. The pH of storage in groups III and IV was reduced to 4.5, and group IV was subjected to thermocycling. Thermocycling was carried out between 5 and 55 °C for 500 cycles. The release of nickel ions was statistically analyzed by two-way ANOVA for the effects of two variables: pH and thermocycling. The interaction between pH and thermocycling was found to be statistically significant (F = 12.127, P = 0.001). Two-way ANOVA showed that different storage media or pH and thermocycling had a significant effect on the nickel release (F = 52.812, P < 0.001 and F = 197.035, P < 0.001, respectively). Thermocycling and pH can adversely affect the release of nickel from orthodontic wires, while thermocycling is clearly the dominant factor.

Evaluation of nickel ion release from various orthodontic arch wires: An in vitro study

Aim:

The high incidence of nickel (Ni) allergy and the increasing use of Ni-containing dental biomaterials have been of growing concern. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze and evaluate the rate of Ni ion release from different types arch wires used in orthodontics.

Materials and Methods:

Four groups of arch wires (nickel titanium [NiTi], SS, Cu NiTi and ion implanted NiTi) with twelve samples were stored in artificial saliva with a pH 5.6-7.0 thermostated at (36.5°C) and tested at different intervals i.e., 7^th day, 14^th day, and 21^st day. The amount of Ni and Ti ions released from the sample were evaluated using an atomic adsorption spectrophotometer. The solution was replaced with a fresh bottle to avoid sediments.

Results:

Statistical analysis was performed by nonparametric tests (Student's paired t-test, one-way analysis of variance and multiple comparison test by Tukey “Honestly significant difference”). The statistical package SPSS PC plus (version 4.0.1) was used for data processing and statistical analysis. Results showed significantly statistical influence on the release amount of Ni and Ti ions. Large variation in concentration of Ni released from brackets and bands combined. However, the amount of Ni ions released in all test solutions diminished with time and was below the critical value necessary to induce allergy and below daily dietary intake level.

Conclusions:

The daily release of NiTi, SS, Cu NiTi and ion implanted NiTi by an orthodontic appliance in acid pH, particularly favorable to corrosion, was well below that ingested with a normal daily diet. It is therefore concluded that the quantities of metal ions released in our experimental conditions should not be cause for concern in utilizing the appliance.

[Evaluation of the corrosion resistance of orthodontic wires by electrochemical measures and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)]

The objective of this paper is to study the corrosion resistance of orthodontic wires made of different alloys (stainless steel, chrome-cobalt, nickel-titanium and β-titanium) and for the same alloy from different vendors (GAC(®), RMO(®), 3M(®) and ORMCO(®)). Different electrochemical techniques (corrosion potential monitoring as a function of immersion time, current-potential curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)) were used. The wires' resistance to corrosion was measured and compared with the surface condition, assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Using the recorded data, a rating system based on the corrosion resistance of orthodontic wires was developed. The comparison of these data with the results of SEM shows that the surface chemical composition plays a primary role in the electrochemical behavior of the orthodontic wires and, unlike surface defects, is a key parameter for the corrosion resistance of the alloy.

Influence of the microstructure on electrochemical corrosion and nickel release in NiTi orthodontic archwires

The aim of this work was to determine the influence of the present phases and the chemical composition on the corrosion behavior and the nickel ion release of the NiTi orthodontic archwires. Eight Ni-Ti archwires from six commercial brands, in the as-received condition, were studied. The chemical composition, roughness, microstructure and the proportion of the phases as well as the corrosion behavior were analyzed for each archwire. The nickel ion release was characterized in artificial saliva immersion settings ranging up to 4 weeks. The results show that the presence of the martensitic phase improves corrosion resistance and significantly decreases Ni release into exterior medium in comparison with the austenitic specimens. In spite of the partial loss of superelasticity produced in the martensitic phase, it could be of great interest for biomedical applications, as it could minimize sensitization and allergies and improve biocompatibility and corrosion resistance of NiTi shape memory alloys.

Effect of temperature on the orthodontic clinical applications of NiTi closed-coil springs

NiTi spring coils were used to obtain large deformation under a constant force. The device consists on a NiTi coil spring, superelastic at body temperature, in order to have a stress plateau during the austenitic retransformation during the unloading. The temperature variations induced changes in the spring force. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the temperature variations in the spring forces and corrosion behaviour simulating the ingestion hot/cold drinks and food. Study Design: The springs were subjected to a tensile force using universal testing machine MTS-Adamel (100 N load cell). All tests were performed in artificial saliva maintained at different temperatures. The corrosion tests were performed according to the ISO-standard 10993-15:2000. Results: The increase in temperature of 18oC induced an increase in the spring force of 30%. However, when the temperature returns to 37oC the distraction force recovers near the initial level. After cooling down the spring to 15oC, the force decreased by 46%. This investigation show as the temperature increase, the corrosion potential shifts towards negative values and the corrosion density is rising. Conclusions: The changes of the temperatures do not modify the superelastic behaviour of the NiTi closed-coil springs. The corrosion potential of NiTi in artificial saliva is decreasing by the rise of the temperatures.

Key words:Superelasticity, NiTi, springs, orthodontic, coils, recovery, temperature.

Influence of topographical features on the fluoride corrosion of Ni-Ti orthodontic archwires

Different manufacturing processes of Ni-Ti archwires respond differently to corrosion due to the surface conditions involved. In this study, several topographical features and their influence upon fluoride corrosion were studied. Four topographies (smooth, dimple, scratch, and crack) according to the main surface defect were characterized (n = 40). Static corrosion tests were performed in artificial saliva with fluorated prophylactic gel (12500 ppm) for 28 days. The surface was characterized by SEM and laser confocal microscopy. Standard electrochemical corrosion (open circuit potential, corrosion potential and corrosion current density) was performed. Statistical analysis was carried out using the ANOVA test (α ≤ 0.05). An increase was observed in the surface defects and/or roughness of the cracked and scratched surfaces. These defects produced an important increase in corrosion behavior. The best surfaces for the orthodontic archwires were the smooth and dimpled surfaces, respectively. The increase in defects was independent of roughness. Manufacturing processes that produce surface cracks should be avoided in orthodontic applications.

Induction heating vs conventional heating for the hydrothermal treatment of nitinol and its subsequent 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl 2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl phosphate coating by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

Nitinol is an alloy of great interest in general and especially in the biomedical field where many researches are aimed to improve both its corrosion resistance and its biocompatibility. In this work, we report on the advantage of an induction heating treatment in pure water compared to a conventional hydrothermal procedure. Both treatments lead to a hydroxylation of the surface, a decrease of the nickel amount in the outer part of the oxide layer, and a drastically decreased corrosion current density. However, the amount of surface hydroxyl groups is higher in the case of the induction heating treatment, which in turn leads to a denser grafting of atom transfer radical polymerization initiators and ultimately to a thicker 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl 2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl phosphate (MPC) polymer layer than in the case of conventional heating treatments. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), static contact angle, and polarization curves measurements as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been used to characterize the obtained modified surfaces.

Cytotoxicity of Ni from Surface-Treated Porous Nitinol (PNT) on Osteoblast Cells

The leaching of nickel from the surface of porous Nitinol (PNT) is mainly dependent on its surface characteristics, which can be controlled by appropriate surface treatments. In this investigation, PNT was subjected to two surface treatments, namely, water-boiling and dry-heating passivations. Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solutions obtained from cyclic potentiodynamic polarization tests on PNT were employed to assess the cytotoxicity of Ni contained therein on osteoblast cells by Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. In addition, similar concentrations of Ni were added exogenously to cell culture media to determine cytotoxic effects on osteoblast cells. The morphologies of the untreated and the surface-treated PNTs were examined using SEM and AFM. Furthermore, growth of human osteoblast cells was observed on the PNT surfaces.

Release of metal ions from orthodontic appliances by in vitro studies: a systematic literature review

In the present work, a systematic literature review on release of metal ions from orthodontic appliances under in vitro conditions is described. Detailed and schematic analysis of used materials and applied methods (immersion media, incubation time, temperature, and analytical techniques) is provided. The PubMed search identified 40 studies, among which eight met the selection criteria. One additional study was included in the review. All the authors agreed that the doses of released metal ions were far below the toxic level and the dietary intake. Although the concentrations of metal ions in immersion media greatly differed, the general conclusions were coherent. It must be underlined that the main disadvantage of in vitro tests was that the experimental setup did not reflect in vivo conditions, e.g., the presence of biofilm, which grows on the surface of the materials in oral cavity. The presence and activity of microflora to a large extent is responsible for the process of corrosion, in particular, biodeterioration. The further scheme of in vitro research should incorporate changeable conditions of oral cavity environment (pH, dynamic conditions-saliva flow) and the presence of microbiological flora (microbiological attack) in the experimental design and, first of all, the real proportions of appliance elements.

Corrosion resistance of different nickel-titanium archwires in acidic fluoride-containing artificial saliva

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that different nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires may have dissimilar corrosion resistance in a fluoride-containing oral environment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Linear polarization test, a fast electrochemical technique, was used to evaluate the corrosion resistance, in terms of polarization resistance (R(p)), of four different commercial NiTi archwires in artificial saliva (pH 6.5) with various NaF concentrations (0%, 0.01%, 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5%). Two-way analysis of variance was used to analyze R(p) with the factors of archwire manufacturer and NaF concentration. Surface characterizations of archwires were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

RESULTS

Both archwire manufacturer and NaF concentration had a significant influence on R(p) of NiTi archwires. Different surface topography was present on the test NiTi archwires that contained the similar surface chemical structure (TiO(2) and trace NiO). The surface topography did not correspond to the difference in corrosion resistance of the NiTi archwires. Increasing the NaF concentration in artificial saliva resulted in a decrease in R(p), or corrosion resistance, of all test NiTi archwires. The NiTi archwires severely corroded and showed similar corrosion resistance in 0.5% NaF-containing environment.

CONCLUSIONS

Different NiTi archwires had dissimilar corrosion resistance in acidic fluoride-containing artificial saliva, which did not correspond to the variation in the surface topography of the archwires. The presence of fluoride in artificial saliva was detrimental to the corrosion resistance of the test NiTi archwires, especially at a 0.5% NaF concentration.

Shape memory alloys: metallurgy, biocompatibility, and biomechanics for neurosurgical applications

SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS possess distinct dynamic properties with particular applications in neurosurgery. Because of their unique physical characteristics, these materials are finding increasing application where resiliency, conformation, and actuation are needed. Nitinol, the most frequently manufactured shape memory alloy, responds to thermal and mechanical stimuli with remarkable mechanical properties such as shape memory effect, super-elasticity, and high damping capacity. Nitinol has found particular use in the biomedical community because of its excellent fatigue resistance and biocompatibility, with special interest in neurosurgical applications. The properties of nitinol and its diffusionless phase transformations contribute to these unique mechanical capabilities. The features of nitinol, particularly its shape memory effect, super-elasticity, damping capacity, as well as its biocompatibility and biomechanics are discussed herein. Current and future applications of nitinol and other shape memory alloys in endovascular, spinal, and minimally invasive neurosurgery are introduced. An understanding of the metallurgic properties of nitinol provides a foundation for further exploration of its use in neurosurgical implant design.

Surface treatment of NiTi for medical applications

This article gives an overview of methods applied for surface treatment of nickel-titanium shape memory alloys in medical applications. The different methods are classified into the three major groups: <I>removal</I>, <I>oxidation</I> and <I>coating</I>. The principle behind each group of methods is explained and the pros and cons of the different methods are discussed.

Nanoindentation of orthodontic archwires: The effect of decontamination and clinical use on hardness, elastic modulus and surface roughness

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of decontamination and clinical exposure on the elastic moduli, hardness and surface roughness of two frequently used orthodontic archwires, namely 0.020in.x0.020in. heat activated (martensitic active) nickel titanium archwires and 0.019in.x0.025in. austenitic stainless steel archwires.

METHOD

This study was a prospective clinical trial in which 20 consecutive patients requiring an archwire change as part of their course of orthodontic fixed appliance therapy, had either a nickel titanium or stainless steel archwire fitted as deemed clinically necessary. The effect of clinical use was determined by comparing distal end cuts of the "as received" archwires before and after decontamination, with the same retrieved archwires following clinical use and decontamination. Hardness, elastic modulus and surface roughness were determined using an atomic force microscope (AFM) coupled with a nanoindenter.

RESULTS

The results showed that the decontamination regimen and clinical use had no statistically significant effect on the nickel titanium archwires, but did have a statistically significant effect on the steel archwires. Decontamination of the steel wires significantly increased the observed surface hardness (p=0.01) and reduced the surface roughness (p=0.02). Clinical use demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the observed elastic modulus (p<0.001) and a decrease in surface roughness (p=0.001).

SIGNIFICANCE

At present it is difficult to predict the clinical significance of these statistically significant changes in archwire properties on orthodontic tooth movement.

Surface mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and cytocompatibility of nitrogen plasma-implanted nickel-titanium alloys: a comparative study with commonly used medical grade materials

Stainless steel and titanium alloys are the most common metallic orthopedic materials. Recently, nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloys have attracted much attention due to their shape memory effect and super-elasticity. However, this alloy consists of equal amounts of nickel and titanium, and nickel is a well known sensitizer to cause allergy or other deleterious effects in living tissues. Nickel ion leaching is correspondingly worse if the surface corrosion resistance deteriorates. We have therefore modified the NiTi surface by nitrogen plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII). The surface chemistry and corrosion resistance of the implanted samples were studied and compared with those of the untreated NiTi alloys, stainless steel, and Ti-6Al-4V alloy serving as controls. Immersion tests were carried out to investigate the extent of nickel leaching under simulated human body conditions and cytocompatibility tests were conducted using enhanced green fluorescent protein mice osteoblasts. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results reveal that a thin titanium nitride (TiN) layer with higher hardness is formed on the surface after nitrogen PIII. The corrosion resistance of the implanted sample is also superior to that of the untreated NiTi and stainless steel and comparable to that of titanium alloy. The release of nickel ions is significantly reduced compared with the untreated NiTi. The sample with surface TiN exhibits the highest amount of cell proliferation whereas stainless steel fares the worst. Compared with coatings, the plasma-implanted structure does not delaminate as easily and nitrogen PIII is a viable way to improve the properties of NiTi orthopedic implants.

Human gingival fibroblast response to electropolished NiTi surfaces

In the present study the in vitro biocompatibility of electropolished NiTi sheets is investigated. The assessment of cytotoxic effects due to potential Ni leaching from metal sheets was performed in direct contact with primary human fibroblast cultures using the 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine cell proliferation assay and morphologic studies via light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. To assess toxic effects related to Ni-ions release, cells cultured in the presence of increasing concentrations of Ni(2+) (NiSO(4).6H(2)O) served as positive controls. It is shown that while the addition of NiSO(4) caused severe proliferation decrease (approximately 80%) and morphologic damage at a concentration of 50 mg/L Ni(2+) no negative effects were observed in fibroblasts cultured in the presence of electropolished NiTi sheets. The results are discussed in terms of surface topography effects on the biocompatibility of NiTi shape memory alloys.

Variation in surface topography of different NiTi orthodontic archwires in various commercial fluoride-containing environments

OBJECTIVES

The surface topography can affect the friction behavior between an orthodontic wire and brackets during clinical applications. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of a fluoride-containing environment on the surface topography variations of different nickel-titanium (NiTi) orthodontic archwires.

METHODS

Four different NiTi commercial orthodontic archwires were immersed in fluoride mouthwashes and in artificial saliva with the addition of commercial fluoride toothpastes or prophylactic gels for a 28-day period. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to measure the three-dimensional surface topography of NiTi archwires before and after the immersion tests. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the surface roughness variance (including DeltaR(a), DeltaR(ms), and DeltaR(z)) with the archwire manufacturer and immersion test environment as the factors.

RESULTS

Both the archwire manufacturer and immersion environment had a significant influence on DeltaR(a), DeltaR(ms), and DeltaR(z) (manufacturer: P<0.05; environment: P<0.0001). Regardless of the archwire manufacturer, no statistically significant difference in DeltaR(a) (<70 nm), DeltaR(ms) (<90 nm), and DeltaR(z) (<450 nm) was observed on the tested NiTi archwires in lower fluoride-containing (<2500 ppm) environments, including the various fluoride mouthwashes and the artificial saliva added with fluoride toothpastes. In artificial saliva added with high fluoride prophylactic gel (around 17,000 ppm), a significant increase in DeltaR(a) (around 120-250 nm), DeltaR(ms) (around 140-320 nm), and DeltaR(z) (around 770-1410 nm), i.e. increasing the surface roughness, was observed on the tested NiTi archwires.

SIGNIFICANCE

The variation in the surface topography of the NiTi orthodontic archwires in the commercial fluoride-containing environments should be taken into consideration when the friction between the archwire and bracket is a clinical concern.

Corrosion resistance of a laser spot-welded joint of NiTi wire in simulated human body fluids

The purpose of this study was to investigate corrosion resistance of a laser spot-welded joint of NiTi alloy wires using potentiodynamic tests in Hank's solution at different PH values and the PH 7.4 NaCl solution for different Cl- concentrations. Scanning electron microscope observations were carried out before and after potentiodynamic tests. The composition of a laser spot-welded joint and base metal were characterized by using an electron probe microanalyzer. The results of potentiodynamic tests showed that corrosion resistance of a laser spot-welded joint of NiTi alloy wire was better than that of base metal, which exhibited a little higher breakdown potential and passive range, and a little lower passive current density. Corrosion resistances of a laser spot-welded joint and base metal decreased with increasing of the Cl- concentration and PH value. The improvement of corrosion resistance of the laser spot-welded joint was due to the decrease of the surface defects and the increase of the Ti/Ni ratio.

Carbon plasma immersion ion implantation of nickel–titanium shape memory alloys

Nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloys possess super-elasticity in addition to the well-known shape memory effect and are potentially suitable for orthopedic implants. However, a critical concern is the release of harmful Ni ions from the implants into the living tissues. We propose to enhance the corrosion resistance and other surface and biological properties of NiTi using carbon plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIII&D). Our corrosion and simulated body fluid tests indicate that either an ion-mixed amorphous carbon coating fabricated by PIII&D or direct carbon PIII can drastically improve the corrosion resistance and block the out-diffusion of Ni from the materials. Our tribological tests show that the treated surfaces are mechanically more superior and cytotoxicity tests reveal that both sets of plasma-treated samples favor adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts.

Investigation of nickel suppression and cytocompatibility of surface-treated nickel-titanium shape memory alloys by using plasma immersion ion implantation

Nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloys are increasingly being used in orthopedic applications. However, there is a concern that Ni is harmful to the human body. We have recently investigated the use of nitrogen, or oxygen plasma immersion ion implantation to mitigate this deleterious effect. Our results reveal that the near-surface Ni concentration in all the treated samples is significantly suppressed. In addition, our in vitro tests show that the plasma-treated surfaces are cytologically compatible allowing the attachment and proliferation of osteoblasts. Among the two types of samples, the best biological effects are found on the samples with nitrogen implantation.

Assessing the biocompatibility of NiTi shape memory alloys used for medical applications

The present paper reviews aspects related to the biocompatibility of NiTi shape memory alloys used for medical applications. These smart metallic materials, which are characterised by outstanding mechanical properties, have been gaining increasing importance over the last two decades in many minimal invasive surgery and diagnostic applications, as well as for other uses, such as in orthodontic appliances. Due to the presence of high amounts of Ni, the cytotoxicity of such alloys is under scrutiny. In this review paper we analyse work published on the biocompatibility of NiTi alloys, considering aspects related to: (1) corrosion properties and the different methods used to test them, as well as specimen surface states; (2) biocompatibility tests in vitro and in vivo; (3) the release of Ni ions. It is shown that NiTi shape memory alloys are generally characterised by good corrosion properties, in most cases superior to those of conventional stainless steel or Co-Cr-Mo-based biomedical materials. The majority of biocompatibility studies suggest that these alloys have low cytotoxicity (both in vitro and in vivo) as well as low genotoxicity. The release of Ni ions depends on the surface state and the surface chemistry. Smooth surfaces with well-controlled structures and chemistries of the outermost protective TiO2 layer lead to negligible release of Ni ions, with concentrations below the normal human daily intake.

Corrosion resistance, surface mechanical properties, and cytocompatibility of plasma immersion ion implantation-treated nickel-titanium shape memory alloys

Nickel-titanium shape memory alloys are promising materials in orthopedic applications because of their unique properties. However, for prolonged use in a human body, deterioration of the corrosion resistance of the materials becomes a critical issue because of the increasing possibility of deleterious ions released from the substrate to living tissues. We have investigated the use of nitrogen, acetylene, and oxygen plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) to improve the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of the materials. Our results reveal that the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties such as hardness and elastic modulus are significantly enhanced after surface treatment. The release of nickel is drastically reduced as compared with the untreated control. In addition, our in vitro tests show that the plasma-treated surfaces are well tolerated by osteoblasts. Among the three types of samples, the best biological effects are observed on the nitrogen PIII samples.

Calcium phosphate coating of nickel-titanium shape-memory alloys. Coating procedure and adherence of leukocytes and platelets

Nickel-titanium shape-memory alloys (NiTi-SMA) were coated with calcium phosphate by dipping in oversaturated calcium phosphate solution. The layer thickness (typically 5-20 micrometer) can be varied by choice of the immersion time. The porous nature of the layer of microcrystals makes it mechanically stable enough to withstand both the shape-memory transition upon cooling and heating and also strong bending of the material (superelastic effect). This layer may improve the biocompatibility of NiTi-SMA, particulary for osteosynthetic devices by creating a more physiological surface and by restricting a potential nickel release. The adherence of human leukocytes (peripheral blood mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes) and platelets to the calcium phosphate layer was analyzed in vitro. In comparison to non-coated NiTi-SMA, leukocytes and platelets showed a significantly increased adhesion to the coated NiTi-SMA.