Polyunsaturated fatty acids as a coating material for bone implants to control bone adhesion (completed)

About the project

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are the materials most frequently used as bone implants as they combine good mechanical properties, with good biocompatibility Different implant properties are required for different applications. For temporary implants, such as plates, screws, and wires for bone fracture healing, where the implant has to be removed after a certain time (typically 6 weeks), a low bone-to-implant attachment is desirable, as this would maintain the newly grown bone when the implants are detached, without impairing the healing process. Up to now, the fracture plates used have polished surfaces to reduce attachment, which is known to have adverse effects on osteoblast proliferation while emphasizing fibroblast growth. The positive effects of the n-3 PUFA eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on bone growth and differentiation directly on the implant site could improve the bone healing. The main focus of this study is to combine low bone-to-implant attachment with improved bone mineralization by coating Ti implant surfaces with a thin layer of EPA molecules. Various EPA coating are characterized and the effects of the coating are tested in in vitro and in vivo models.

Financing

The project was initiated in 2006 and have received funding from UiO, The University of Palma, The Research Council of he Balearic Islands and from the EU-Eurostar program.

Cooperation

Tags: Biomaterials, Biomaterial and Tissue regeneration, Bone implants, Titanium, Surface modifications, n-3 PUFA
Published Nov. 1, 2010 4:40 PM - Last modified Aug. 16, 2018 10:15 AM

Participants

Detailed list of participants