Coatings and Surface modification on permanent metallic implants: a way to enhance osseointegration and bone/prosthesis mechanical fixation

JOSEFINA BALLARRE; MARÍA ROSA KATUNAR; SILVIA M. CERÉ

Springer series in Biomaterials Science and Engineering: Biomaterials for Implants and Scaffolds

Springer

Año: 2014;

Osseointegration, bone healing and implant fixation by the creation of newly formed bone around an implant, are highly relevant clinical aims of trauma surgeons. In principle, metallic materials could be protected from the physiological media by generating a protective barrier, which ideally blocks the contact to the solution, thus avoiding the release of particles and ions from the corrosion processes into the body fluids. Surface modification of surgical implants is often used to generate a surface that besides being protective could also allow a better integration of the metal to the human body by creating a bioactive surface. It is therefore of great importance to develop techniques that enhance the corrosion resistance and bioactivity of these materials, and to study its bonding properties with the skeletal system. Among many techniques that can be applied for surface modification, the application of an inorganic ceramic or glassy coatings and the anodizing treatment for valve metals with the aim of creating a thicker oxide layer and to enhance bioactivity, are very promising. After the modified implant is settled, the osseointegration process begins. The quality of the newly formed bone tissue is essential for the early fixation of the prosthesis, as well as a possible way to evaluate the performance of bioactive materials in terms of bone formation enhancement in cementless orthopedic devices.