The binding of metal salts and corrosion products to cells and proteins in vitro.

The binding of metal ions from salts and from corrosion products of 316 LVM stainless steel and MP-35 to blood cells and serum proteins was studied in vitro. In the first series of experiments, metal salts were added to whole blood and then the blood separated into red cells, white cells, and serum. Nickel from nickel chloride or corrosion products of stainless steel bound in very small quantities to blood cells. Cobalt from cobalt chloride bound to both red cells and white cells. Chromium from chromic chloride (Cr3+) bound to cells in very small quantities whereas chromium from potassium dichromate (Cr6+) and corrosion products showed very high to binding to red cells and some binding to white cells. In a second series of experiments the blood was separated into its components and then the metal salts were added and the binding pattern was identical. In a third series of experiments serum which had interacted with the metal salts or corrosion products was separated into its components by isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gels. Almost all of the metal, whatever the source, was detected in the albumin region of the gels indicating strong binding to albumin. These studies on the cell and protein binding of the metals help to explain the dissemination of corrosion products from the site of the implant and subsequent systemic responses by some individuals.