UoH-led team develops new alloy for safer medical implants

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Researchers from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) here, in collaboration with IIT-Delhi, IIT-Bhubaneswar and CSIR-CECRI, Karaikudi, have developed a new family of metal alloys that could lead to stronger, safer and longer-lasting medical implants.

Instead of starting with one base metal and adding small amounts of others, researchers developed multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) by blending titanium, cobalt, and chromium in equal proportions.

This alloy has demonstrated high strength, excellent wear and corrosion resistance, and improved flexibility closer to that of natural bone, researchers said. The findings were published in international journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.

They added that laboratory tests confirmed the alloy’s biocompatibility, and cell studies showed healthy cell growth without toxic effects. These findings, researchers believe, could help address key limitations of conventional implant metals, including wear, corrosion, metal-ion release and excessive stiffness, which can contribute to implant loosening and repeat surgeries.

According to information by the university, the study forms part of the doctoral research of Nanda Kishore Karnam, under the supervision of Koteswararao V. Rajulapati, professor in the School of Engineering Sciences and Technology.

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