Abstract
This study assessed the osseointegrative effects of atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) surface treatment for implants in a canine model. Control surfaces were untreated textured titanium (Ti) and calcium phosphate (CaP). Experimental surfaces were their 80-second air-based APP-treated counterparts. Physicochemical characterization was performed to assess topography, surface energy, and chemical composition. One implant from each control and experimental group (four in total) was placed in one radius of each of the seven male beagles for three weeks, and one implant from each group was placed in the contralateral radius for six weeks. After sacrifice, bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and bone area fraction occupancy (BAFO) were assessed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed decreased surface levels of carbon and increased Ti and oxygen, and calcium and oxygen, posttreatment for Ti and CaP surfaces, respectively. There was a significant (P < 0.001) increase in BIC for APP-treated textured Ti surfaces at six weeks but not at three weeks or for CaP surfaces. There were no significant (P = 0.57) differences for BAFO between treated and untreated surfaces for either material at either time point. This suggests that air-based APP surface treatment may improve osseointegration of textured Ti surfaces but not CaP surfaces. Studies optimizing APP parameters and applications are warranted.
Highlights
Osseointegration, the direct structural assimilation of bone to an implant, is a topic of particular importance to orthopaedic surgeons
Surface modifications may increase the osseointegrative properties of implants [1,2,3], and optimizing bony ingrowth has been the subject of extensive investigation literature for years [4,5,6,7,8]
Surface energy may be divided into nonpolar components and polar components, BioMed Research International which accounts for polar groups, electric charges, and free radicals, as well as the roughness of the surface [21]
Summary
Osseointegration, the direct structural assimilation of bone to an implant, is a topic of particular importance to orthopaedic surgeons. Surface modifications may increase the osseointegrative properties of implants [1,2,3], and optimizing bony ingrowth has been the subject of extensive investigation literature for years [4,5,6,7,8]. Cellular adhesion may be enhanced by manipulation of the implant’s surface properties (e.g., charge, texture, and polarity) to yield a hospitable microenvironment on the implant surface [11,12,13]. High surface energy states foster cellular adhesion [20]. Surface energy may be divided into nonpolar (disperse) components and polar components, BioMed Research International which accounts for polar groups, electric charges, and free radicals, as well as the roughness of the surface [21]
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