Corrosion behavior of a newly developed multifunctional beta-type Ti-23Nb-0.7Ta-2Zr-O (mol%, TNTZO) alloy in Ringer's physiological solution was evaluated by open circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Corrosion property of Ti-6Al-4V was also measured for comparison. The results showed that the TNTZO alloy possesses much better corrosion property than the Ti-6Al-4V alloy, corroborated by a high corrosion potential and broad passive region, which is attributed to the stable and inert passive TiO2 film modified by the oxides of Nb, Ta and Zr on the surface of the TNTZO alloy. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.