title: Micro-CT and histological analysis of Ti6Al7Nb custom made implants with hydroxyapatite and SiO2-TiO2 coatings in a rabbit model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bone defect reconstruction in the maxillofacial area comes as a necessity after traumatic, oncological or congenital pathology. Custom made implant manufacturing, such as selective laser melting (SLM), is very helpful when bone reconstruction is needed. In the present study we assessed the osseointegration of custom made implants made of Ti6Al7Nb with two different coatings: SiO2-TiO2 and hydroxyapatite, by comparing the bone mineral density (BMD) measured on micro-CT and the histological mineralized bone surrounding the implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Custom made - cylindrical type - implants were produced by selective laser melting, coated with SiO2-TiO2 and hydroxyapatite and implanted in the rabbit femur. The animals (divided into 3 groups) were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 6 months and the implants were removed together with the surrounding bone. Bone mineral density and histological examination of the bone-implant surface was performed for each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BMD and histological examination of the samples determined the quantity of mineralized bone at the implant site, showing a good percentage of mineralized bone for the coated implants at 1, 3 and 6 months. The measurements for the implants without coating showed a significant lower quantity of mineralized bone at 3 months compared with the implants with coating, and a good quantity of mineralized bone at 6 months, showing a process of demineralization followed by remineralization in the last month. The measurements of BMD showed similar results with the histological examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of micro-CT and the measurement of BMD are a reliable, minimally invasive and a quick method of osseointegration assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Armencea
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animal Facility, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berce
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Horatiu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rotaru
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Simion
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bran
authors.affiliation: Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Technical University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leordean
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coada
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physics & Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babes Bolyai University.
authors.forename: Milica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Todea
authors.affiliation: Student, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Camelia Augusta
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jula
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gheban
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Grigore
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baciut
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baciut
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Oral Health and Management of Dental Office, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Radu Septimiu
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Campian
keywords: SLM; Ti6Al7Nb; custom made implant; implant coating; micro-CT; osseointegration