title: Surface analytical studies of maxillofacial implants: influence of the preoperational treatment and the human body on the surface properties of retrieved implants.
abstract: In the present work, surface analytical investigation of unimplanted as well as retrieved pyrolytic carbon-covered carbon/carbon composite implants and Ti osteosynthesis plates is reported. The Ti plates were covered by a 200-nm-thick, anodically and thermally formed TiO2 layer. Our results suggest that although the oxide layer on the Ti miniplates remained stable during the time spent in the human body, there is still material transport between the implant and the human body. In case of the carbon/carbon composite implants, damage of the carbon fibers constituting the material was found on one side of the sterile implant and attributed to the manufacturing process. The NaCl crystals originally present on the surface of the sterile material disappeared during the time spent in the human body. As a result of the interaction with the human body, a new surface layer (mainly constituted of carbon) appeared on the implant. The results indicate that both the time spent in the human organism and the preparation of the implants before operation can have detectable effects on the investigated surface properties. Surface analytical investigations could therefore provide information not only about the biocompatibility of these materials but also about the effect of their treatment before operation.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of *Atomic Physics and †Materials Science and Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics; and ‡Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Béla
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sebők
authors.forename: Péter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: Arpád F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Joób
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Szabó
mesh_terms: D001860:Bone Plates; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry*; D020878:Device Removal; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D008447:Maxillofacial Prosthesis / Q000592:standards*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; C009139:pyrolytic carbon; C009495:titanium dioxide; D002244:Carbon; D014025:Titanium