Biocompatibility and compressive properties of Ti-6Al-4V scaffolds having Mg element.

Porous scaffolds of Ti-6Al-4V were produced by mixing of this alloy with different amount of magnesium (Mg) powders. The mixtures were compacted in steel die by applying uniaxial pressure of 500 MPa before sintering the compacts in sealed quartz tubes at 900 °C for 2 h. Employing Archimedes׳ principle and Image Tool software, the total and open volume percentages of porosities within the scaffolds were found to be in the range of 47-64% and 41-47%, respectively. XRD results of titanium before and after sintering showed that no contamination, neither oxides nor nitrides formed during processes. Compressive properties of the scaffolds were studied using an Instron machine. The observed compressive strength and Young׳s module of the scaffolds were in the range of 72-132 MPa, and 37-47 GPa, respectively. Cell attachment and proliferation rate of MG-63 on porous samples were investigated. The results showed that proliferation rate increased with increasing Mg content. However no clear differences were observed between samples regarding cell attachment, so that bridges were observed in all cell gaps within the scaffolds.