A zirconia/tantalum biocermet: in vitro and in vivo evaluation for biomedical implant applications

A biocermet made of zirconia/20 vol% tantalum (3Y-TZP/Ta) is a new composite with exceptional capabilities due to a combination of properties that are rarely achieved in conventional materials (high strength and toughness, cyclic fatigue resistance and flaw tolerance, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, etc.). In this study, for the first time, the biomedical performance of a 3Y-TZP/Ta biocermet was evaluated in detail. Its in vitro biocompatibility was assessed using mesenchymal stem cell culture. The effectiveness of in vivo osteointegration of the biocermet was confirmed 6 months after implantation into the proximal tibiae of New Zealand white rabbits. In addition, the possibility of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for medical analysis of the considered biocermet material was studied. The 3Y-TZP/Ta composite showed no injurious effect on cell morphology, extracellular matrix production or cell proliferation. Moreover, the implanted biocermet appeared to be capable of promoting bone growth without adverse reactions. On the other hand, this biocermet demonstrates artefact-free performance in MRI biomedical image analysis studies, making it more suitable for implant applications. These findings open up possibilities for a wide range of applications of these materials in orthopedics, dentistry and other areas such as replacement of hard tissues.