The Effects of Surface Roughness on the Functionality of Titanium Based Alloy Ti13Zb13Zr Orthopedic Implants

In this study, the effects of surface roughness on the wettability, cell attachment, and mechanical properties of titanium-based Ti13Nb13Zr orthopedic implants have been investigated. The aim of this multidisciplinary research was to find an optimum range of surface roughness for Ti13Nb13Zr orthopedic implants that could maximize the attachment and the proliferation of cells and improve the wettability of the surface, without adversely affecting the mechanical strength of the implants. There have been some published research works that support the existence of relations between roughness and the functionality of implants, but still, an optimum roughness that can satisfy all of the orthopedic requirements, either is not fully studied or not published. It was seen that the performance of orthopedic implants depends on multiple paradoxical parameters. The results of this study on Ti13Nb13Zr show, even though increasing the value of surface roughness can increase the initial phase of cell attachment onto the surface of Ti13Nb13Zr implants, other major functions such as wettability and mechanical properties can be influenced adversely. Through an experimental methodology, this study proposes an optimum range of roughness, which meets all three major functions of cell attachment, mechanical properties, and wettability. In respect to the recent serious health concerns reported over the implants made of Ti6Al4V which is a common material in the implant industry, scientists and researchers are currently working to introduce a better biomaterial. In this study, Ti13Nb13Zr which is a new and advanced titanium-based biomaterial with improved biocompatibility and more desired mechanical properties was selected and studied. The reason for this selection backs to the fact that Ti13Nb13Zr does not release toxic ions (such as Al and V ions) and its mechanical properties are closer to the bone in comparison to many titanium alloys such as Ti6Al4V