University of Hyderabad-led team develops alloy that could make implants safer and longer-lasting

UoH-led team develops new alloy for safer medical implants

A research collaboration led by the University of Hyderabad has developed a new family of metal alloys that could lead to stronger, safer and longer-lasting medical implants.

The team worked with researchers from IIT-Delhi, IIT-Bhubaneswar and CSIR-CECRI, Karaikudi. Rather than using one base metal and adding small amounts of other metals, the researchers created multi-principal element alloys, or MPEAs, by blending titanium, cobalt and chromium in equal proportions.

Alloy shows strength and flexibility

Researchers said the alloy demonstrated high strength, excellent resistance to wear and corrosion, and improved flexibility closer to that of natural bone. Laboratory tests confirmed its biocompatibility, while cell studies showed healthy cell growth without toxic effects, they added.

The findings were published in the international journal Advanced Healthcare Materials. The results are relevant to the limitations of conventional implant metals, which researchers identified as including wear, corrosion, metal-ion release and excessive stiffness.

Possible impact on implant performance

According to the researchers, these limitations can contribute to implant loosening and repeat surgeries. They believe the new alloy could help address those problems by combining mechanical strength, resistance to degradation and flexibility closer to that of natural bone.

The university said the study forms part of the doctoral research of Nanda Kishore Karnam. The research was conducted under the supervision of Koteswararao V. Rajulapati, professor in the School of Engineering Sciences and Technology.

Source: The Hindu