Corrosion of clinical relevant components of metallic biomaterials. Influence on biocompatibility

CORTIZO MC,; CORTIZO, AM; FERNÁNDEZ LORENZO DE MELE, M

Revista CENIC

CENIC-Ciencias Biológicas

Lugar: La Habana; Año: 2006 vol. 37 p. 156 - 158

0258 6002

ABSTRACT. Despite the long-standing use of metallic biomaterials there are still unsolved problems in relation to ions release and its effect on the biological environment. Silver and copper are some of the metal components of clinical relevance because of the toxic effects of their cations. Thus, the study of corrosion of these metals is important in relation to their biocompatibility. Saline solutions have been employed in several research works as electrolyte media. However, the metal dissolution may be affected by the organic components of the biological media. Among them, proteins are readily adsorbed on several metals and may affect the corrosion rate. Electrochemical tests in Dubelco´s Modified Eagle Medium still unsolved problems in relation to ions release and its effect on the biological environment. Silver and copper are some of the metal components of clinical relevance because of the toxic effects of their cations. Thus, the study of corrosion of these metals is important in relation to their biocompatibility. Saline solutions have been employed in several research works as electrolyte media. However, the metal dissolution may be affected by the organic components of the biological media. Among them, proteins are readily adsorbed on several metals and may affect the corrosion rate. Electrochemical tests in Dubelco´s Modified Eagle Medium . Despite the long-standing use of metallic biomaterials there are still unsolved problems in relation to ions release and its effect on the biological environment. Silver and copper are some of the metal components of clinical relevance because of the toxic effects of their cations. Thus, the study of corrosion of these metals is important in relation to their biocompatibility. Saline solutions have been employed in several research works as electrolyte media. However, the metal dissolution may be affected by the organic components of the biological media. Among them, proteins are readily adsorbed on several metals and may affect the corrosion rate. Electrochemical tests in Dubelco´s Modified Eagle MediumDubelco´s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) are interesting because biocompatibility assays are frequently made using DMEM with the addition of fetal bovine serum as a culture medium for osteoblast cells. The aim of this work is to compare the dissolution of silver and copper in several saline and organic media such as fetal bovine serum and DMEM. Potentiostatic and potentiodynamic electrochemical techniques with different perturbation programs were applied. The concentration of metal ions was determined through atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Microscopic observations of the metal samples were also made. Results showed that the dissolution process in the saline media was mainly governed by the chloride concentration. However, voltamograms showed a strong effect of proteins on the dissolution process occurring in biological media. A significant inhibition of the cathodic process and alterations in the distribution and shape of the reduction peaks were observed, particularly in the case of silver. The osteosarcoma line UMR106 seems to be a convenient, sensitive and reproducible system to evaluate the biocompatibility of copper and silver. These metals affected the growth and differentiation of UMR106 osteoblast-like cells. There was a second order correlation between the concentration of the released ions and cytoxicity.