Experimental investigation of biocompatibility of structural metallic materials
The most important characteristic of new structural metallic materials for medical applications is biocompatibility. Present study was aimed at investigation of <i>in vivo </i>biocompatibility of stainless high-nitrogen steel of НС-5T mark in the experimental settings as compared to the standard steel 08Х18Н10T. Two types of samples were used: small perforated plates and tubes. Plates were implanted either into the abdominal cavity or into the paravertebral muscle of male Wistar rats while tubes were delivered into the abdominal aorta. Two weeks after surgery, the animals were euthanized, and the samples were visually inspected with subsequent fixation. The outcomes were verified with use of histological analysis of the tissues surrounding the plates as well as the aortic wall in the area of tube implantation. Tissue fragments were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and microscopically observed at a magnification of ×200. In all cases we found the formation of connective tissue capsule with signs of moderate aseptic inflammation. There were no significant differences in tissue response and inflammatory changes between control material (steel 08Х18Н10Т) and material under investigation (steel НС-5T). Stainless high-nitrogen steel НС-5T has comparable biocompatibility to standard material and its further investigation might contribute to development of new generation of national implants.