Osseointegration of Ti6Al4V alloy implants coated with titanium nitride by a new method.
Coating titanium alloy implants with titanium nitride (TiN) by the method of Powder Immersion Reaction Assisted Coating (PIRAC) produces a stable layer on their surface. We have examined the ability of the new TiN coating to undergo osseointegration. We implanted TiN-coated and uncoated Ti6Al4V alloy pins into the femora of six-month-old female Wistar rats. SEM after two months showed a bone collar around both TiN-coated and uncoated implants. Morphometrical analysis revealed no significant differences between the percentage of the implant-bone contact and the area and volume of the bone around TiN-coated compared with uncoated implants. Electron-probe microanalysis indicated the presence of calcium and phosphorus at the implant-bone interface. Mineralisation around the implants was also confirmed by labelling with oxytetracycline. Strong activity of alkaline phosphatase and weak activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase were shown histochemically. Very few macrophages were detected by the non-specific esterase reaction at the site of implantation. Our findings indicate good biocompatibility and bone-bonding properties of the new PIRAC TiN coatings which are comparable to those of uncoated Ti6Al4V alloy implants.
Sovak
G
G
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Weiss
A
A
Gotman
I
I
D000497:Alloys; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008422:Materials Testing; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014025:Titanium
D000497:Alloys; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; C031462:titanium alloy (TiAl6V4); D010758:Phosphorus; C041500:titanium nitride; D014025:Titanium; D002118:Calcium