IBAD Nanothick Bioceramic Incorporation on Metallic Implants for Bone Healing Enhancement. From Physico/Chemical Characterization to In-vivo Performance Evaluation

Keywords:
nanothick coating, bone healing, bioceramic, characterization, biomechanical testing

Abstract:
Preliminary data on in-vivo performance of nanothick bioceramic IBAD-coated metallic implants showed an increase in both osteoblastic activity and mechanical properties for bone surrounding these implants. The purpose of this study was to characterize a thin-film bioceramic coating obtained by Ion Beam Assisted Deposition (IBAD) on Ti-6Al-4V implants and evaluate its in-vivo performance in an animal model. Control (C) and IBAD-coated implants were analyzed through SEM, EDS, ion-milling + XPS for depth profiling, and thin-film XRD. 60 cylindrical implants were bilaterally placed in the tibias of 6 beagle dogs through sequenced surgical procedures and were biomechanically tested (torque) at 3 and 5 weeks in-vivo. No thin-film was detected by SEM, and the EDS Spectra for IBAD coated implants showed Ca presence. XPS showed Ca, P, Si, C, and O at outer layers with variable Ca/P ratios as a function of depth. XRD spectra revealed an amorphous microstructure for IBAD implants. Biomechanical tests showed that IBAD-coated implants had superior fixation competence compared to control implants at 3 and 5 weeks in-vivo. According to the results, it was concluded that the nanothick surface coating enhanced the biological response of bone to implant, supporting opportunities for increased bone healing response in clinical practice.

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Nanotech 2005 Conference Program Abstract