Furkan Biçer, Sıdıka Mine Toker

Abstract: Metallic biomaterials are widely used in orthopedic applications, yet conventional metallic materials such as stainless steel face challenges including corrosion, ion release, and limited osseointegration. High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have recently gained attention as promising alternatives. This study investigates the biocompatibility of a TiTaHfNbZr HEA and the effect of femtosecond laser surface modification. 316L stainless steel was employed as the reference. Surface characterization confirmed comparable roughness values for control samples, while laser treatment significantly increased the surface roughness of HEA. Biological evaluation showed that HEA-control sample supported markedly higher cell proliferation than stainless steel, and HEA-modified sample further enhanced proliferation. Apoptosis assays revealed a higher proportion of viable cells on HEA compared to stainless steel. SEM analysis demonstrated improved cell attachment and spreading, particularly on laser-treated HEA surfaces. Overall, TiTaHfNbZr HEA exhibited superior biocompatibility, and femtosecond laser modification further promoted favorable cell–material interactions, indicating strong potential for orthopedic implant applications.

Keywords: High entropy alloy, Biocompatibility, Orthopedic implant, Femtosecond laser.

Date Published: December 3, 2025
DOI: 10.11159/jbeb.2025.013

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