M. Es-souni et al., On the transformation behaviour, mechanical properties and biocompatibility of two NiTi-based shape memory alloys: NiTi42 and NiTi42Cu7, BIOMATERIAL, 22(15), 2001, pp. 2153-2161
The transformation behaviour, mechanical properties and cytotoxicity of a b
inary NiTi42 and a ternary NiTi42Cu7 alloy have been investigated. The tran
sformation temperatures were determined via differential scanning calorimet
ry, the mechanical properties have been investigated in 3-point bending tes
ts in the temperature range between 6 and 60 degreesC. The cytotoxicity tes
ts were performed on both alloys in cultured epithelial cells from human gi
ngiva. The cytotoxicity investigations included both MTT tests and morpholo
gical observations. It is shown that although the ternary alloy is characte
rised by a narrower hysteresis and superior mechanical properties, includin
g fatigue resistance, its cytotoxicity is higher than that of the binary al
loy. This is thought to arise from the release of copper ions in the medium
, which upon atomic absorption spectroscopy measurements amount to approxim
ately 2.8 mug cm(-2) for an incubation period of 7 days. (C) 2001 Elsevier
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