International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, Volume. 6, Issue 1, 15503(2024)

Additively manufactured Ti–Ta–Cu alloys for the next-generation load-bearing implants

Amit Bandyopadhyay1、*, Indranath Mitra1, Sushant Ciliveri1, Jose D Avila1, William Dernell2, Stuart B Goodman3, and Susmita Bose1
Author Affiliations
  • 1W. M. Keck Biomedical Materials Research Laboratory, School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States of America
  • 2Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, United States of America
  • 3Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Redwood City, CA 94063, United States of America
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    Bacterial colonization of orthopedic implants is one of the leading causes of failure and clinical complexities for load-bearing metallic implants. Topical or systemic administration of antibiotics may not offer the most efficient defense against colonization, especially in the case of secondary infection, leading to surgical removal of implants and in some cases even limbs. In this study, laser powder bed fusion was implemented to fabricate Ti3Al2V alloy by a 1:1 weight mixture of CpTi and Ti6Al4V powders. Ti-Tantalum (Ta)–Copper (Cu) alloys were further analyzed by the addition of Ta and Cu into the Ti3Al2V custom alloy. The biological, mechanical, and tribo-biocorrosion properties of Ti3Al2V alloy were evaluated. A 10 wt.% Ta (10Ta) and 3 wt.% Cu (3Cu) were added to the Ti3Al2V alloy to enhance biocompatibility and impart inherent bacterial resistance. Additively manufactured implants were investigated for resistance against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus strains of bacteria for up to 48 h. A 3 wt.% Cu addition to Ti3Al2V displayed improved antibacterial efficacy, i.e. 78%–86% with respect to CpTi. Mechanical properties for Ti3Al2V–10Ta–3Cu alloy were evaluated, demonstrating excellent fatigue resistance, exceptional shear strength, and improved tribological and tribo-biocorrosion characteristics when compared to Ti6Al4V. In vivo studies using a rat distal femur model revealed improved early-stage osseointegration for alloys with 10 wt.% Ta addition compared to CpTi and Ti6Al4V. The 3 wt.% Cu-added compositions displayed biocompatibility and no adverse inflammatory response in vivo. Our results establish the Ti3Al2V–10Ta–3Cu alloy’s synergistic effect on improving both in vivo biocompatibility and microbial resistance for the next generation of load-bearing metallic implants.

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    Amit Bandyopadhyay, Indranath Mitra, Sushant Ciliveri, Jose D Avila, William Dernell, Stuart B Goodman, Susmita Bose. Additively manufactured Ti–Ta–Cu alloys for the next-generation load-bearing implants[J]. International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, 2024, 6(1): 15503

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    Paper Information

    Received: Aug. 4, 2023

    Accepted: --

    Published Online: Jul. 19, 2024

    The Author Email: Bandyopadhyay Amit (amitband@wsu.edu)

    DOI:10.1088/2631-7990/ad07e7

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