Innovative Implants in the Treatment of Osteoporosis: Materials, Technologies and Prospects for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

The aim of the study: to investigate the effect of pore size and the presence of a biologically active calcium phosphate coating on the integration process with bone tissue in porous titanium implants manufactured by 3D printing.

Materials and methods. Cylindrical implant samples of three different diameters (100, 200 and 400 μm) were manufactured using electron beam melting technology from titanium powder on an Arcam 3D printer (Sweden). A calcium phosphate coating with a thickness of 20 ± 4 μm was applied to some products using microarc oxidation. The cytotoxicity of the implants was determined in vitro using human skin fibroblast cultures. In vivo samples were implanted into the femurs of 36 rabbits. Animals were divided into 6 groups according to the bone implantation patterns. The prepared samples and peri-implant tissues were studied using scanning electron microscopy and histological methods on days 90 and 180 after implantation.

Results. All the studied samples were found to be non-toxic and had good biocompatibility with bone tissue. No differences were found in the histological structure, vascularity intensity in the early stages, and bone formation in the later stages for coated and uncoated implants with hole diameters of 100 and 200 μm. Samples with hole diameters of 100 and 200 μm were easily removed from the bone tissue; with a hole diameter of 400 μm, a difference was noted between coated and uncoated samples, which was expressed in a stronger osseointegration in favor of calcium phosphate coated samples (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The optimal surface properties of the material for replacing bone defects are a pore diameter of 400 microns and the presence of a calcium phosphate coating.