Abstract
To examine the effect of fine titanium particles, animal experiments (for 1〜30weeks) and cell functional test (TNF-α and superoxide anion release) were done. Animal experiments showed that each particle was englobed by fibrous connective tissue for the Ti particles (40, 150μm), whereas Ti particles (1〜3, 10μm) smaller than the inflammatory cells were englobed by connective tissue for their agglomeration and this occurred after being endocytosed by inflammatory cells for 1〜3μm particles. Cell functional test using human neutrophils revealed that fine particles of Ti-stimulated cells and increased the release of superoxide anion and TNF-α. Thus, fine particles of Ti smaller than cell size may cause a stronger inflammatory reaction.
