Trabecular bone response to titanium implants with a thin carbonate-containing apatite coating applied using the molecular precursor method.
OBJECTIVE
The influence of thin carbonate-containing apatite (CA) coating on the trabecular bone response to titanium implants was investigated.


METHODS
Thin CA coatings were deposited by a new method known as the molecular precursor method. Using a precursor solution composed of an EDTA-calcium complex, a CA film was deposited on the titanium surfaces. Uncoated and CA-coated titanium were placed in the trabecular bone of the left and right femoral condyles of 16 rabbits. After implantation periods of 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, the bone-implant interface was evaluated histologically and histomorphometrically.


RESULTS
Histologic evaluation revealed new bone formation around the uncoated and CA-coated implant surfaces after only 4 weeks of implantation. After 12 weeks, mature trabecular bone surrounded all implants. At 4 and 8 weeks of implantation, no difference existed in bone contact between uncoated and CA-coated implants. After 12 weeks of implantation, the CA-coated implant group showed a significantly higher percentage of bone contact than the uncoated implant group.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrated that thin CA coatings applied using the molecular precursor method showed greater bone-to-implant contact during the healing phase than uncoated controls. The results were similar to those observed with implants with calcium phosphate coatings deposited with a physical vapor deposition technique.
Hayakawa
Tohru
T
Department of Dental Biomaterials, Research Institute of Oral Science, Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo, 2-870-1, Sakaecho-nishi, Matsudo, Chiba 271-8587, Japan. hayakawa.tohru@nihon-u.ac.jp
Takahashi
Kenichi
K
Yoshinari
Masao
M
Okada
Hiroyuki
H
Yamamoto
Hirotsugu
H
Sato
Mitsunobu
M
Nemoto
Kimiya
K
D000818:Animals; D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry*; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005269:Femur / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology*; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D013499:Surface Properties; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
D001031:Apatites; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002614:Chelating Agents; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; C030782:carboapatite; D004492:Edetic Acid; D014025:Titanium; D002118:Calcium