Bone-bonding to alkali/heat treated titanium

grantor: University of TorontoThis study tests the hypothesis that surface topographical changes induced by alkali/heat treatment of cpTi metal implants will cause bone to mechanically bond with the surface of the implants. Therefore, the changes of the surface features of machined and acid-etched cpTi metal were characterized both prior to and after alkali/heat treatment. Such surface features were also analyzed with respect to the biological responses of both osteoconduction and bone-bonding. It was found that alkali/heat treatment of both machined and acid-etched surfaces (1) renders the surface oxide microporous, (2) significantly increases Ra, Rq, SA, SAI values, and (3) significantly increases surface wettability. The level of the osteoconductivity was found to be significantly higher on untreated or treated acid-etched vs. untreated-machined samples. Conducting the detachment tests it was found that considerable forces were required to detach the bone from alkali/heat treated surfaces and the cement line of the newly formed bone was interdigitating with the microporosity of the alkali/heat treated surfaces.M.Sc