title: Three-dimensional structure of laser-modified Ti6Al4V and bone interface revealed with STEM tomography.
abstract: The early interaction between an implant's surface and bone is a leading factor for implant success, where multiple surface properties contribute to improved bone anchorage. An important parameter is surface topography, both on the micron and nanoscale. Laser-modification has been performed in the thread valleys of Ti6Al4V screws to alter their surface chemistry and topography to form a nanostructured surface titanium-dioxide. Implants were placed in the rabbit tibia, removed with surrounding bone after 8 weeks, fixated, dried and resin embedded. Focused ion beam milling (FIB) was used to prepare specimens from the resin blocks for transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Z-contrast electron tomography offered the possibility to explore the interfacial structure with high-resolution in three-dimensions. With this technique, collagen fibers of the surrounding bone appear to have been laid down parallel to the implant surface. Accordingly, visualization of the laser-modified interface with nanoscale three-dimensional resolution, as offered by Z-contrast electron tomography, gives new insights into bone bonding mechanisms between roughened titanium-dioxide surfaces and bone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Sciences, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 534, 751 21 Uppsala, Sweden. kathryn.grandfield@angstrom.uu.se
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grandfield
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palmquist
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Engqvist
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D055032:Electron Microscope Tomography; D007834:Lasers; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011817:Rabbits; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; C031462:titanium alloy (TiAl6V4); D014025:Titanium