Induction Plasma Sprayed Nano Hydroxyapatite Coatings on Titanium for Orthopaedic and Dental Implants

Calcium orthophosphate coatings, films and layers

In surgical disciplines, where bones have to be repaired, augmented or improved, bone substitutes are essential. Therefore, an interest has dramatically increased in application of synthetic bone grafts. As various interactions among cells, surrounding tissues and implanted biomaterials always occur at the interfaces, the surface properties of the implants are of the paramount importance in determining both the biological response to implants and the material response to the physiological conditions. Hence, a surface engineering is aimed to modify both the biomaterials, themselves, and biological responses through introducing desirable changes to the surface properties of the implants but still maintaining their bulk mechanical properties. To fulfill these requirements, a special class of artificial bone grafts has been introduced in 1976. It is composed of various mechanically stable (therefore, suitable for load bearing applications) biomaterials and/or bio-devices with calcium orthophosphate coatings, films and layers on their surfaces to both improve interactions with the surrounding tissues and provide an adequate bonding to bones. Many production techniques of calcium orthophosphate coatings, films and layers have been already invented and new promising techniques are continuously investigated. These specialized coatings, films and layers used to improve the surface properties of various types of artificial implants are the topic of this review.

Construction of microenvironment onto titanium substrates to regulate the osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells in vitro and osteogenesis in vivo

To mimic the extracellular matrix of natural bone, apatite/gelatin composite was deposited onto nanostructured titanium substrates via a coprecipitation method, which was pretreated by potassium hydroxide and heat treatment to generate an anticorrosive nanostructured layer. The successful formation of the apatite/gelatin nanocomposite onto titanium surfaces was revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and thin film X-ray diffraction (TF-XRD) measurements, respectively. The immunofluorescence staining of vinculin revealed that the apatite/gelatin nanocomposite deposited titanium substrate was favorable for cell adhesion. More importantly, bone marrow stromal cells cultured onto the apatite/gelatin nanocomposite deposited titanium substrates displayed significantly higher (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) proliferation and differentiation levels of alkaline phosphatase, mRNA expressions of osteocalcin (OC), osteopontin (OPN), and collagen type I (Col I), and OC content after culture for 7, 14, and 21 days, respectively, which was also revealed by the immunofluorescence analysis of OC and OPN expression. The deposition of apatite/gelatin nanocomposite improved bone density (p < 0.05) and bone-implant contact rate (p < 0.05), which was reflected by microcomputed tomography analysis and histological evaluation in vivo using a rabbit model. This work provides an approach to fabricate high-performance titanium-based implants with enhanced bone osseointegration.

Antibacterial and biological characteristics of silver containing and strontium doped plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings

Infection in primary total joint prostheses is estimated to occur in up to 3% of all surgery. As a measure to improve the antimicrobial properties of implant materials silver (Ag) was incorporated into plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings. To offset potential cytotoxic effects of Ag in the coatings strontium (Sr) was also added as a binary dopant. HA powder was doped with 2.0 wt.% Ag(2)O, 1.0 wt.% SrO and was then heat treated at 800 °C. Titanium substrates were coated using a 30 kW plasma spray system equipped with a supersonic nozzle. X-ray diffraction confirmed the phase purity and high crystallinity of the coatings. Samples were evaluated for mechanical stability by adhesive bond strength testing. The results show that the addition of dopants did not affect the overall bond strength of the coatings. The antibacterial efficacies of the coatings were tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Samples that contained the Ag(2)O dopant were found to be highly effective against bacterial colonization. In vitro cell-material interactions using human fetal osteoblast cells were characterized by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay for cell viability, field emission scanning electron microscopy for cell morphology and confocal imaging for the important differentiation marker alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Our results showed evidence of cytotoxic effects of the Ag-HA coatings, characterized by poor cellular morphology and cell death and nearly complete loss of functional ALP activity. The addition of SrO to the Ag-HA coatings was able to effectively offset these negative effects and improve performance compared with pure HA-coated samples.

Calcium phosphate ceramic systems in growth factor and drug delivery for bone tissue engineering: a review

Calcium phosphates (CaPs) are the most widely used bone substitutes in bone tissue engineering due to their compositional similarities to bone mineral and excellent biocompatibility. In recent years, CaPs, especially hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate, have attracted significant interest in simultaneous use as bone substitute and drug delivery vehicle, adding a new dimension to their application. CaPs are more biocompatible than many other ceramic and inorganic nanoparticles. Their biocompatibility and variable stoichiometry, thus surface charge density, functionality, and dissolution properties, make them suitable for both drug and growth factor delivery. CaP matrices and scaffolds have been reported to act as delivery vehicles for growth factors and drugs in bone tissue engineering. Local drug delivery in musculoskeletal disorder treatments can address some of the critical issues more effectively and efficiently than the systemic delivery. CaPs are used as coatings on metallic implants, CaP cements, and custom designed scaffolds to treat musculoskeletal disorders. This review highlights some of the current drug and growth factor delivery approaches and critical issues using CaP particles, coatings, cements, and scaffolds towards orthopedic and dental applications.

Mechanical, in vitro antimicrobial, and biological properties of plasma-sprayed silver-doped hydroxyapatite coating

Implant-related infection is one of the key concerns in total joint hip arthroplasties. To reduce bacterial adhesion, we used silver (Ag)/silver oxide (Ag(2)O) doping in plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) coating on titanium substrate. HA powder was doped with 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 wt % Ag, heat-treated at 800 °C and used for plasma spray coating using a 30 kW plasma spray system, equipped with supersonic nozzle. Application of supersonic plasma nozzle significantly reduced phase decomposition and amorphous phase formation in the HA coatings as evident by X-ray diffraction (XRD) study and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis. Adhesive bond strength of more than 15 MPa ensured the mechanical integrity of the coatings. Resistance against bacterial adhesion of the coatings was determined by challenging them against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1). Live/dead staining of the adherent bacteria on the coating surfaces indicated a significant reduction in bacterial adhesion due to the presence of Ag. In vitro cell-material interactions and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) protein expressions were evaluated by culturing human fetal osteoblast cells (hFOB). Our results suggest that the plasma-sprayed HA coatings doped with an optimum amount of Ag can have excellent antimicrobial property without altering mechanical property of the Ag-doped HA coatings.

Characteristics of functionalized nano-hydroxyapatite and internalization by human epithelial cell

Hydroxyapatite is the main inorganic component of biological bone and tooth enamel, and synthetic hydroxyapatite has been widely used as biomaterials. In this study, a facile method has been developed for the fabrication of arginine-functionalized and europium-doped hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (Arg-Eu-HAP). The synthesized nanoparticles characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared, and Zeta potential analyzer. Its biological properties with DNA binding, cell toxicity, cell binding and intracellular distribution were tested by agarose gel electrophoresis assay, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope. The synthesized Arg-Eu-HAP could effectively bind DNA without any cytotoxicity and be internalized into the cytoplasm and perinuclear of human lung epithelial cells.