Bone nickel

Following a 2-year study in rats in which nickel levels were measured in bone, liver, kidney, and fat, Ambrose et al. (1976) concluded that there were no important storage sites for nickel. In control rats, bone nickel was 0.53 ppm in female rats and <0.096 ppm in male rats. An explanation for the difference in bone nickel between male and female rats was not provided. Nickel was found to cross the placenta, as indicated by increases in the levels of nickel in the fetuses of mice given nickel during gestation (Jasim and Tjalve 1986a Schroeder et al. 1964). 

Next-generation metallic biomaterials include porous titanium alloys and porous CoCrMo with elastic moduli that more closely mimic that of human bone nickel-titanium alloys with shape-memory properties for dental braces and medical staples rare earth magnets such as the NdFeB family for dental fixatives and titanium alloys or stainless steel coated with hydroxyapatite for improved bioactivity for bone replacement. The corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties of many of these materials still must be optimized for example, the toxicity and carcinogenic nature of nickel released from NiTi alloys is a concern. ... 

Carcinogens Cancer-producing agents Skin Respiratory Bladder/urinary tract Liver Nasal Bone marrow Coal tar pitch dust crude anthracene dust mineral oil mist arsenic. Asbestos polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons nickel ore arsenic bis-(chloromethyl) ether mustard gas. p-naphthylamine benzidine 4-am i nodi pheny lam ine. Vinyl chloride monomer. Mustard gas nickel ore. Benzene. 

In rats, nickel carbonyl is reported to cause dominant lethal mutations (WHO 1991), but this needs verification. Nickel sulfate, when given subcutaneously at 2.4 mg Ni/kg B W daily for 120 days causes infertility testicular tissues are adversely affected after the first injection (USEPA 1980). Nickel salts given intraperitoneally to rats at 6 mg Ni/kg BW daily for 14 days did not produce significant chromosomal changes in bone marrow or spermatogonial cells (Mathur et al. 1978). 

In mice, nickel chloride produces a dose-dependent increase in abnormal lymphoma cells (WHO 1991). Mice given high concentrations of nickel in drinking water, equivalent to 23 mg Ni/kg BW daily and higher, have an increased incidence of micronuclei in bone marrow (USPHS 1993). However, mice injected once with 50 mg Ni/kg BW as nickel chloride show no evidence of mutagenicity (USPHS 1977). 

Nickel sulfate 3 or 6 mg/kg BW daily for 7 or 14 days killed 48 h after last injection Highest nickel concentrations were in myocardium (5.7 mg/kg FW vs. 2.2 in controls) and spleen (2.1 vs. 0.6), followed by kidney, bone, and other tissues 37... 

The essential microelements are only required in trace amounts (see also p.2). This group includes iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), selenium (Se), and molybdenum (Mo). Fluorine (F) is not essential for life, but does promote healthy bones and teeth. It is still a matter of controversy whether vanadium, nickel, tin, boron, and silicon also belong to the essential trace elements. 

Microscopic examinations of vertebra with spinal cord and femur with bone marrow in mice and rats exposed to nickel sulfate, nickel subsulfide, or nickel oxide for 12 6-hour exposures over 16 days did not reveal any changes at concentrations as high as 23.6 mg nickel/m (Benson et al. 1987, 1988 Dunnick et al. 1988). 

Increases in micronuclei in the bone marrow were observed in mice treated orally with nickel sulfate (28 mg nickel/kg), nickel nitrate (23 mg nickel/kg), or nickel chloride (43 mg nickel/kg) (Sobti and Gill 1989). The specific route of exposure was not given however, because mg/kg doses were reported, it was assumed that the mice were administered a single oral dose by gavage with a nickel compound in water. Bone marrow cells were examined 6 or 30 hours after the mice were treated. This study is also limited by the use of only one dose of each nickel compound. 

Rat bone marrow and spermatogonial Chromosome aberrations — Mathuretal. 1978 Nickel sulfate... 

Mouse bone marrow cells Micronucleus test (oral) + Sobti and Gill 1989 Nickel chloride, nickel sulfate, nickel nitrate... 

Mouse bone marrow cells Chromosome aberrations (ip) + Dhiretal. 1991 Nickel chloride... 

Nickel-containing alloys are used in patients in joint prostheses, sutures, clips, and screws for fractured bones. Corrosion of these implants may lead to elevated nickel levels in the surrounding tissue and to the release of nickel into extracellular fluid (lARC 1990 Sunderman 1989a Sunderman et al. 1986, 1989c). Serum albumin solutions used for intravenous infusion fluids have been reported to contain as... 

Early human civilizations used stone, bone, and wood for objects. Approximately ten thousand years ago, metals first appeared. The first metals used were those found in their native form, or in a pure, uncombined state. Most metals today are acquired from an ore containing the metal in combination with other elements such as oxygen. The existence of native metals is rare, and only a few metals exist in native form. Iron and nickel were available in limited supply from meteorites. The first metals utilized widely by humans were copper, silver, and gold. Pure nuggets of these metals were pounded, in a process known as cold hammering, with stones into various shapes used for weapons, jewelry, art, and various domestic implements. Eventually, smiths discovered if a metal was heated it could be shaped more easily. The heating process is known as annealing. Because the supply of native metals was limited, metal items symbolized wealth and status for those who possessed them. 

As previously mentioned, the nickel—titanium alloys have been the most widely used shape memory alloys. This family of nickel—titanium alloys is known as Nitinol (Nickel Titanium Naval Ordnance Laboratory in honor of the place where this material behavior was first observed). Nitinol have been used for military, medical, safety, and robotics applications. Specific usages include hydraulic lines capable of F-14 fighter planes, medical tweezers, anchors for attaching tendons to bones, eyeglass frames, underwire brassieres, and antiscalding valves used in water faucets and shower heads (38,39). Nitinol can be used in robotics actuators and micromanipulators that simulate human muscle motion. The ability of Nitinol to exert a smooth, controlled force when activated is a mass advantage of this material family (5). 

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