Relationship between ceramic additives and improved biodegradability, osseointegration, and surface roughness of Ni-Ti shape memory alloy for use in load-bearing bone site applications

To make metallic biomaterial implants acceptable for use in bone replacement applications, this research aimed to identify a potential means of improving the poor wear resistance of implants as well as their limited osseointegration capability and rapid biodegradation. In this regard, mechanical alloying was used to make a nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) shape memory alloy with increasing amounts of hardystonite (HT) and niobium carbide (NbC). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to examine the phase composition and microstructure of the sintered samples. To test osseointegration and biodegradation, samples were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF). They were then analyzed using SEM, weight loss measurements, and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). The SEM pictures indicated that increasing HT and NbC helped build apatite layers on their surfaces, anticipating successful osseointegration if utilized as bone implants. ICP findings showed that HT and NbC significantly reduced Ni2+ ion release, preventing tissue damage. In contrast to electrical conductivity, these ceramics improved the compressive strength and microhardness of the examined samples. The improvement in their strength was 10.81, 27.02, 21.62, and 31.89%. SEM results confirmed the role of ceramic materials to enhance the wear resistance of the tested samples. Based on these findings, the prepared nanocomposites achieved the main goal of this study.