time unit, (2) the amount of material removed by metabolic activity in the same
time unit, and (3) quantities of solid particles and ions deposited in the tissue and
any associated transfers to the systemic system. Hence, the extent of toxicity is
indirectly related to corrosion rate [6-2–6-5]. An in vivo corrosion experiment can
always be followed up by a tissue examination. This type of tissue reaction is
observed for both corrosion-resistant materials (Mo-containing stainless steel and
Co-Cr-Mo alloys) and for the strongly corroding metals Fe, Mo, and Al. It must
be assumed that the unwanted corrosion product itself is the determining factor.
Fe, Mo, and Al, as non-toxic metals, do not trigger an extreme tissue reaction
despite high corrosion rates (about 300 times that of stainless steel). On the other
hand, the very low corrosion rates of stainless steel and Co-Cr alloys, comparable
to that of Ti, Nb, and Zr, release sufficient quantities of the highly toxic elements
nickel and cobalt, to trigger a noticeable tissue reaction. It should be mentioned at
this point that no limiting concentration is commonly admitted for an allergic reac-
tion. Gold and silver are also to be found in this middle group, as these noble met-
als can also corrode in living tissue. As demonstrated above, a low corrosion rate
alone is not sufficient to guarantee compatibility, nor is the elemental dose the
only determining factor. It would appear that the intrinsic toxicity of the element
and its ability to bind to macromolecules are equally important. Chemical data for
Ti, Zr, Nb, and Ta show that organic complexes of this type are unlikely, and it is
also known that organo-metallic compounds of these elements, as far as they exist,
are unstable [6-6].
There are certain types of elements which are essential for living organisms and
types of elements are different between kinds of living substances. For plants,
there are macronutrients inlcuding N, P, S, Ca, Mg, and Fe, and micronutrients
such as Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, B, and Cl [6-7]. On the other hand, essential trace ele-
ments for living organisms (particularly, the higher animals) include Fe, F, Si, Zn,
Sr, Pb, Mn, Cu, Sn, Se, I, Mo, Ni, B, Cr, As, Co, and V. Among these elements, the
following nine elements are considered as the most important bioelements, since
they are able to exist as a constituting element for metalloproteins, metalloen-
zymes, or even vitamins: Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Se, Mo, Ni, Co, and V [6-8, 6-9].
Despite reports associating tissue necrosis with implant failure, the degree to
which processes, such as metal toxicity, negatively impact implant performance is
unknown. Hallab et al. [6-10] evaluated representative human peri-implant cells
(i.e., osteoblasts, fibroblasts, and lymphocytes) when challenged by Al
3⫹
, Co
2⫹
,
Cr
3⫹
, Fe
3⫹
, Mo
5⫹
, Ni
2⫹
, and V
3⫹
chloride solutions (and Na
2⫹
as a control) over a
wide range of concentrations (0.01–10.0 mM). It was reported that (i) differential
effects were found to be less a function of the cell type than of the composition
and concentration of metal challenge, (ii) no preferential immuno-suppression was
demonstrated, and (iii) soluble Co released from Co-Cr alloy and V released from
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