Titanium-protein nanocomposites as new biomaterials produced by high-pressure torsion

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Author(s):	Floriano, Ricardo ; Edalati, Kaveh ; Pereira, Karina Danielle ; Luchessi, Augusto Ducati Total Authors: 4
Document type:	Journal article
Source:	SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 13, n. 1, p. 11-pg., 2023-01-10.
Abstract
The development of new biomaterials with outstanding mechanical properties and high biocompatibility has been a significant challenge in the last decades. Nanocrystalline metals have provided new opportunities in producing high-strength biomaterials, but the biocompatibility of these nanometals needs to be improved. In this study, we introduce metal-protein nanocomposites as high-strength biomaterials with superior biocompatibility. Small proportions of bovine serum albumin (2 and 5 vol%), an abundant protein in the mammalian body, are added to titanium, and two nanocomposites are synthesized using a severe plastic deformation process of high-pressure torsion. These new biomaterials show not only a high hardness similar to nanocrystalline pure titanium but also exhibit better biocompatibility (including cellular metabolic activity, cell cycle parameters and DNA fragmentation profile) compared to nano-titanium. These results introduce a pathway to design new biocompatible composites by employing compounds from the human body. (AU)

FAPESP's process:	19/06951-3 - Screening of the amino acid hypusine molecular actions
Grantee:	Augusto Ducati Luchessi
Support Opportunities:	Regular Research Grants