J. Phys. IV France 112 (2003) 1117
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:20031078

Biocompatibility of austenite and martensite phases in NiTi-based alloys

A. Danilov^{1, 2}, A. Kapanen², S. Kujala³, J. Saaranen⁴, J. Ryhänen³, A. Pramila⁴, T. Jämsä¹ and J. Tuukkanen<sup>2

1</sup>  Department of Medical Technology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
²  Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 5000, 90014 Oulu, Finland
³  Department of Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 21, 90029 Oys, Finland
⁴  Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4200, 90014 Oulu, Finland

Abstract
The effect of surface phase composition on the biocompatibility of NiTi-based shape memory alloys was studied. The biocompatibility characteristics of parent -phase (austenite) in binary NiTi and of martensite in ternary NiTiCu alloys after similar surface mechanical treatment were compared. The martensitic phase as a result of surface mechanical treatment (strain-induced martensite) was shown to decrease the biocompatibility of material in comparison to fully austenite state. The cytotoxicity (amount of dead cells / 1000 cells) and cell attachent (paxillin count / frame) were found to be linear functions of structural stresses in austenite.

© EDP Sciences 2003