Osseointegration of Calcium Phosphate Nanofilms on Titanium Alloy Implants

Abstract:

In the present work two different hydroxyapatite nanofilms (50 and 100 nm thick) have been successfully deposited on titanium implants that were previously laser macrostructured in order to assess the influence of the thickness of nanometric calcium phosphate coatings on the osseointegration. Cylindrical implants were tested in a sheep tibia model together with titanium alloy controls achieving very good osseointegration results. Laser macrostructured titanium alloy implants have shown improved bone regeneration when coated with nanometric films of carbonated HA. The pulsed laser deposited nanofilm has promoted bone in-growth deep into the laser ablated craters. There were no significant differences between the two coating thicknesses, neither when assessed with electron microscopy or classical optical methods. This result suggests that the 50 nm coating is as effective as the 100 nm one, therefore implying that the thickness limit for such a bioactive layer to stimulate bone growth may be even further below.