The biological response to titanium and titanium-aluminium-vanadium alloy particles. I. Tissue culture studies.

One aspect of the biological response to titanium and titanium-aluminium-vanadium alloy was investigated by exposing primary cultures of human synovial fibroblasts and mouse peritoneal macrophages to particulate preparations of these materials. Both cell types appeared to be unaffected by either material as judged by microscopical examination. A small but significant release of lactate dehydrogenase was detected from both cell types in response to their exposure to the particulate material indicating that some cell damage occurred. Macrophages also exhibited a small release of the two lysosomal enzyme markers beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. This indicates that these materials may have a mild inflammatory potential. No soluble metal could be shown to have dissolved from the particulate alloy or from pure titanium.