Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles synthesized with medicinal plants extract as surface coating for titanium alloy bone implants using a simple method: Characterization and biomechanical evaluation

Abstract

Advanced techniques have been developed to enhance the bioactivity and efficacy of biomedical titanium implants by modifying their surfaces. One such approach involves coating the titanium surface with biomaterials at the nanoscale level. In recent times, medicinal plant extracts have generated attention for nanoparticle synthesis due to their advantageous biomedical properties. Greenly synthesized carob-mediated calcium hydroxide nanoparticles exhibited promising results concerning both anti-inflammatory and osteogenic potentials during in vitro investigations. This study aimed to deposit these nanoparticles onto titanium-alloy bone implants through modifications to the established eco-friendly drop-casting method, characterize the surface, and biomechanically test it on rabbit tibias using torque removal analysis. Surface characterization utilizing scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis successfully coated titanium implants with this material. A biomechanical study conducted on New Zealand rabbits revealed significantly higher peak torque removal values of the coated implants compared to uncoated implants (p < 0.01), suggesting enhanced osseointegration. The drop-casting method employed in this study is a straightforward, cost-efficient, and simple technique for coating various biomaterials onto titanium surfaces. This research lays the groundwork for further exploration of the potential benefits of using calcium hydroxide nanoparticles as titanium bone implant coatings, including their impact on bone healing, bactericidal capabilities, hemostatic potentials, and cellular activities.