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Biocompatibility and medical application basis of Niobium-Titanium Alloy

Niobium-titanium alloy (Nb-Ti) has become an ideal material in the medical field due to its unique physical and chemical properties. Its core advantage lies in biocompatibility. The oxide layer (TiO₂) formed on the surface can effectively isolate the release of metal ions and avoid triggering immune responses. Studies have shown that the cytotoxicity of Ti-Nb alloy is level 0, and the hemolysis rate is less than 5%, which meets the international medical material standards. In addition, the mechanical properties of niobium-titanium alloy are highly matched with human bones, and the elastic modulus (48-60 GPa) is significantly lower than that of traditional titanium alloy (108-115 GPa), which can reduce the "stress shielding" effect after implantation and reduce the risk of bone resorption.

In the field of orthopedics, the newly developed Ti-Nb alloy promotes osteoblast adhesion and hydroxyapatite deposition through surface nanotube modification, which increases the bone integration rate by 30%. In dental implants, Ti-Nb-Zr alloy forms silver-containing nanotubes through electrochemical anodization, with an antibacterial rate of 99.9% while maintaining good cell compatibility. The corrosion resistance of niobium-titanium alloy makes it stable in body fluid environment, and the wear rate after long-term implantation is 50% lower than that of cobalt-chromium alloy. These characteristics lay the foundation for its wide application in implants, medical devices and other fields.