TANTALUM CHEMISTRY IN MEDICINE: ATOMIC-SCALE APPROACHES TO CORROSION RESISTANCE AND BIOCOMPATIBILITY

Abstract

Tantalum is recently been considered as a highly promising candidate for biomaterials in medical implants, useful for its high corrosion resistance, favorable biocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties. The atomic scale mechanisms for corrosion resistance in tantalum and for biocompatibility have been studied through a combination of electrochemical, in vitro, and clinical evaluations in the field. Tantalum is a metal that has been electrochemically investigated as far superior to titanium or stainless steel in resistance to corrosion by forming a passive surface film of stable tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅). In vitro assays with MG63 osteoblast-like cells and endothelial cells showed that the tantalum surface significantly increased cell adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation. Tantalum reduced biofilm formation by the pathogenic agent Staphylococcus aureus, indicating its potential to lessen an infected implant. Clinical evaluations in hospitals further validated the administrative performance of tantalum, which confirmed successful osseointegration and had very minimal inflammatory response in patients with tantalum orthopedic and dental implants. This research has also highlighted problems such as the escalating cost of tantalum and the requirement of further optimization of porous configuration for improvement in mechanical properties. Nevertheless, because of the very excellent biological and chemical properties of tantalum, it will be a promising biomaterial for the next generation of medical implants. The future research should focus on improving its clinical applications and application potential into drug delivery and regenerative medicine.