Histological evaluation and surface componential analysis of modified micro-arc oxidation-treated titanium implants

Early osseointegration of micro-arc oxidation coated titanium alloy implants containing Ag: a histomorphometric study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate bone response to micro-arc oxidation coated titanium alloy implants containing Ag.

METHODS

144 titanium alloy implants were prepared by machine grinding and divided into three treatment groups as following, SLA group: sand-blasting and acid-etched coating; MAO group: micro-arc oxidation without Ag coating; MAO + Ag group: micro-arc oxidation containing Ag coating. Surface characterization of three kind of implants were observed by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, scanning electron microscopy, High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope and roughness analysis. The implants were inserted into dog femurs. 4, 8 and 12 weeks after operation, the bone response to the implant to the bone was evaluated by push-out experiment, histological and fluorescent labeling analysis.

RESULTS

MAO + Ag group consisted of a mixture of anatase and rutile. Ag was found in the form of Ag₂O on the surface. The surface morphology of MAO + Ag group seemed more like a circular crater with upheaved edges and holes than the other two groups. The surface roughness of MAO and MAO + Ag groups were higher than SLA group, but no statistical difference between MAO and MAO + Ag groups. The contact angles in MAO + Ag group was smallest and the surface free energy was the highest among three groups. The maximum push-out strength of MAO and MAO + Ag groups were higher than SLA group at all time point, the value of MAO + Ag group was higher than MAO group at 4 and 8 weeks. Scanning electron microscopy examination for the surface and cross-section of the bone segments and fluorescent labeling analysis showed that the ability of bone formation and osseointegration in MAO + Ag group was higher than that of the other two groups.

CONCLUSION

The micro-arc oxidation combination with Ag coating is an excellent surface modification technique to posse porous surface structure and hydrophilicity on the titanium alloy implants surface and exhibits desirable ability of osseointegration.

Phosphate Porous Coatings Enriched with Selected Elements via PEO Treatment on Titanium and Its Alloys: A Review

This paper shows that the subject of porous coatings fabrication by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO), known also as Micro Arc Oxidation (MAO), is still current, inter alia because metals and alloys, which can be treated by the PEO method, for example, titanium, niobium, tantalum and their alloys, are increasingly available for sale. On the international market, apart from scientific works/activity developed at universities, scientific research on the PEO coatings is also underway in companies such as Keronite (Great Britain), Magoxid-Coat (Germany), Mofratech (France), Machaon (Russia), as well as CeraFuse, Tagnite, Microplasmic (USA). In addition, it should be noted that the development of the space industry and implantology will force the production of trouble-free micro- and macro-machines with very high durability. Another aspect in favor of this technique is the rate of part treatment, which does not exceed several dozen minutes, and usually only lasts a few minutes. Another advantage is functionalization of fabricated surface through thermal or hydrothermal modification of fabricated coatings, or other methods (Physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sol-gel), including also reoxidation by PEO treatment in another electrolyte. In the following chapters, coatings obtained both in aqueous solutions and electrolytes based on orthophosphoric acid will be presented; therein, dependent on the PEO treatment and the electrolyte used, they are characterized by different properties associated with their subsequent use. The possibilities for using coatings produced by means of plasma electrolytic oxidation are very wide, beginning from various types of catalysts, gas sensors, to biocompatible and antibacterial coatings, as well as hard wear coatings used in machine parts, among others, used in the aviation and aerospace industries.

Assessment of osteoinduction using a porous hydroxyapatite coating prepared by micro-arc oxidation on a new titanium alloy

Surface modification and material improvement is now an important way to improve the osseointegration between bone and uncemented prothesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the bone ingrowth potential of porous hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings prepared by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) on Ti-3Zr-2Sn-3Mo-25Nb, a new titanium alloy. HA-coated specimens were implanted in the left proximal femoral medullary canal of beagles for 4, 12, and 24 weeks, and uncoated specimens were implanted in the right as a control. The surface morphology and phase composition were investigated with environmental scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The bone ingrowth was assessed by histomorphometry. A pull-out test was performed to assess the mechanical performance of the bone-implant interface. A porous coating was well prepared on the new titanium alloy by using the MAO method. The bone-to-implant contact was significantly higher for the HA-coated group compared to that in the uncoated group. Mechanical tests showed that the HA-coated group had significantly higher maximum force at the bone-implant interface compared to the uncoated specimens. MAO is a suitable coating approach for this new titanium alloy. The HA coating prepared by this approach can significantly promote bone ingrowth and the mechanical performance of the bone-implant interface.

Enhancement of Calcium Phosphate Formation on Zirconium by Combination of Simple Electrochemical Treatments

Electrochemical surface treatments of micro-arc oxidation (MAO) and following cathodic polarization were performed on zirconium (Zr) disks in this study to enhance the bioactivity of Zr. The surface oxide layers formed with electrochemical treatments on Zr disks were characterized using surface analyses; the calcium phosphate formation on the specimens after immersion in Hanks’ solution was evaluated. As a result, thick calcium phosphate layers formed on only Zr specimens that underwent both MAO treatment with a mixture of calcium glycerophosphate and magnesium acetate and subsequent cathodic polarization treatment with sodium sulfate solution, while no precipitate was observed without treatment. Thus, this technique was confirmed to be a promising method to improve the bioactivity of Zr.

Effects of irradiation on osteoblast-like cells on different titanium surfaces in vitro

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of irradiation on adhesion ability, proliferation, and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells on microarc oxidation (MAO) titanium surfaces and polished titanium (PT) surfaces. MC3T3-E1 cells were exposed to a single dose at 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 Gy using a (60) Co source, with tissue culture polystyrene plates chosen as controls. On all surfaces, irradiation resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in cellular proliferation. At 4 Gy dose, the cell proliferation of cells decreased by 17.8% on MAO and 18.6% on PT surfaces, respectively, compared with nonirradiated controls. Cells exposed to 8 Gy dose showed significant inhibition in collagen secretion and osteogenesis-related genes expression (OSX, COL-Iα1, and OCN). In contrast, irradiation increased cell adhesion to three surfaces dose dependently. It was also demonstrated that cells on MAO surface showed higher adhesion and collagen secretion than on PT surface at different radiation doses. This study revealed the effects of irradiation on osteoblasts in vitro on two titanium surfaces. MAO surface could be used in dental implants in irradiated bone due to enhanced adhesion ability and collagen secretion in osteoblasts.

Alveolar bone regeneration around immediate implants using an injectable nHAC/CSH loaded with autogenic blood-acquired mesenchymal progenitor cells: an experimental study in the dog mandible

BACKGROUND

Lack of osseointegration between a dental implant and the walls of the alveolar bone is a common problem in immediate implantation. Injectable tissue-engineered bone (ITB) may be an effective and minimally invasive solution to the problem. In this study, an injectable bone cement, nHAC/CSH, which consists of nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen (nHAC) and calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaSO4 .½H2 O; CSH) was investigated as a tissue-engineered scaffold material with blood-acquired mesenchymal progenitor cells (BMPC) as seeding cells.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to assess the new bone formation around immediate dental implants using nHAC/CSH loaded with dog blood-acquired mesenchymal progenitor cells (dBMPC) in a canine model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

dBMPC were first isolated from peripheral blood of healthy adult dogs. Alizarin red and oil red O staining were then used to evaluate the potential of dBMPC to differentiate into bi-lineage mesenchymal tissues in vitro. Four healthy mongrel dogs were used in this study. The alveolar bone defects around immediate implants of dogs were created. Each defect was randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: (1) the ITB group (dBMPC+nHAC/CSH); (2) injectable bone cement nHAC/CSH; or (3) no materials (controls). Methylene blue staining was used to examine the bone formation after 3 months.

RESULTS

Studies in vitro revealed that dBMPC could be induced to osteoblasts and adipocytes. The ITB group (dBMPC+nHAC/CSH) showed significantly more bone-implant contact and bone density than either nHAC/CSH or control groups in the areas with peri-implant defects 3 months after implantation.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that the ITB composed of nHAC/CSH and dBMPC may represent a useful strategy for the clinical reconstruction of bone defects around immediate implantation. However, further investigation is needed involving the use of human BMPC as well as possible use of stem cells.

The effect of hierarchical micro/nanosurface titanium implant on osseointegration in ovariectomized sheep

Hydrofluoric etching and anodized hierarchical micro/nanotextured surface titanium implant was placed in mandibles of ovariectomized sheep for 12 weeks, and it showed improved osseointegration by resonance frequency analysis (RFA), microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) evaluation, histomorphometry, and biomechanical test.

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to investigate the effects of micro/nanotextured titanium implant on osseointegration in ovariectomized (OVX) sheep.

METHODS

The hierarchical micro/nanotextured surface of titanium implant was fabricated by acid in 0.5% (w/v) hydrofluoric (HF) and anodized in HF acid electrolytes with a DC power of 20 V, and the machined surface implants with no treatment served as control group. The implants were placed in mandibles of OVX sheep, respectively. Twelve weeks after implantation, RFA, microcomputed tomography, histomorphometry, and biomechanical tests were applied to detect the osseointegration of the two groups.

RESULTS

The implant stability quotient (ISQ) values, the maximum pull-out forces, and the bone-implant contact (BIC) were 65.5 ± 6.3, 490.6 ± 72.7 N, and 58.31 ± 5.79% in the micro/nanogroup and 58.3 ± 8.9, 394.5 ± 54.5 N, and 46.85 ± 5.04% in the control group, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups in ISQ values (p > 0.05), but in the micro/nanogroup, the maximal pull-out force and the BIC were increased significantly (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Micro-CT analysis showed that the bone volume ratio and the trabecular number increased significantly (p < 0.01), and the trabecular separation decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the micro/nanogroup.

CONCLUSION

Implant modification by HF acid etching and anodization to form a hierarchical micro/nanotextured surface could improve titanium implant osseointegration in OVX sheep 12 weeks after implantation.