IN VITRO AND IN VIVO BEHAVIOR OF ANODISED ZIRCONIUM

A. GOMEZ SANCHEZ; JOSEFINA BALLARRE; G. DUFFO; CERE, SILVIA

BIOCELL

INST HISTOL EMBRIOL-CONICET

Lugar: Mendoza; Año: 2012 p. 1 - 14

0327-9545

With the aim to evaluate the performance of zirconium as a potential permanent implant material, and the influence of its surface condition on biocompatibility, SBF immersion tests and in vivo press fit implantation on Wistar rats were carried out on zirconium anodised at 30 V in 1 mol/L H3PO4 solution and unanodised zirconium. After 30 days of immersion in SBF solution, the surface morphology does not present changes on unanodised samples. Meanwhile when observed by SEM zirconium anodised at 30 V, was fully covered with globular aggregates of acicular crystals. Ca and P were the major elements detected with EDS on the aggregates, and according to Raman spectroscopy results, the composition was consistent with hydroxyapatite. These results are an indicative of bioactivity according to the international standard ISO 23317:2007(E); although exists some controversy on such affirmation in the literature. In osseointegration tests, wire samples were implanted on tibia and femur of Wistar rats. The specimens were slaughtered after 60 days of implantation, and histology studies were performed. New formed bone tissue attached to the implant was detected in both surface conditions. However, while on anodised zirconium bone formation was continuous all around the wire surfaces, on unanodised samples, zones with no bone growth were detected. As the amount of bone – implant contact area resulted higher on anodised zirconium; the fixation of this surface modified material presents better perspectives compared to the unanodised metal.