Download or read book Processing, Microstructure Characterization and Biological Performance of Hierarchical Surface Coatings for Titanium Implants written by Ellen Elizabeth Sauter and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Currently, the lifetime of a typical orthopaedic implant is only 15-20 years, a lifetime that many patients are outliving. Therefore, implants with superior longevity need to be engineered. To improve implant longevity, much research has been focused on creating micro-scale porosity/roughness to enhance osseointegration by mechanical interlocking of bone and implant. These structures have improved osseointegration to the current 15-20 year lifespan. It has also been shown that nano-scale structures enhance osteoblast (bone cell) function. The combination of micro-scale and nano-scale structures into one hierarchical structure may further improve the osseointegrative properties of implants. A hierarchical surface modification consisting of titanium dioxide [(TiO2)] nanotubes produced by anodic oxidation of titanium in an electrolyte containing fluoride ions, [F], on a commercially pure (cp) titanium, micro-scale grid structure produced by laser powder deposition was successfully developed. [TiO2] nanotubes were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), while laser deposited grid structures were characterized with both FE-SEM and optical microscopy. Mouse preosteoblasts were used to evaluate the in vitro biological effects, including cell morphology and cell viability, on the four experimental groups: unanodized flat, anodized flat, unanodized laser deposition, and anodized laser deposition. All treatment groups showed good cell attachment and spreading; however, it was observed that on the samples with [TiO2] nanotubes there was a much greater density of adhesion proteins. The presence of these proteins provides a surface that cells can more readily attach to which can lead to greater cell proliferation and differentiation. Also, viability of cells on samples with nanotubes was higher than samples without nanotubes. However, viability was highest on the anodized flat surface, suggesting that the micro-scale grid on the surface of laser deposition samples did not positively affect the osteoblasts. Optimization of the micro-scale surface features, along with anodization of the micro-scale structures, could possibly further improve the bone/implant interaction and further study is needed on this topic.