Direct communication between osteocytes and acid-etched titanium implants with a sub-micron topography
Journal article, 2016

The osteocyte network, through the numerous dendritic processes of osteocytes, is responsible for sensing mechanical loading and orchestrates adaptive bone remodelling by communicating with both the osteoclasts and the osteoblasts. The osteocyte network in the vicinity of implant surfaces provides insight into the bone healing process around metallic implants. Here, we investigate whether osteocytes are able to make an intimate contact with topologically modified, but micrometre smooth (S-a < 0.5 mu m) implant surfaces, and if sub-micron topography alters the composition of the interfacial tissue. Screw shaped, commercially pure (cp-Ti) titanium implants with (i) machined (Sa = similar to 0.2 mu m), and (ii) two-step acid-etched (HF/HNO3 and H2SO4/HCl; S-a = similar to 0.5 mu m) surfaces were inserted in Sprague Dawley rat tibia and followed for 28 days. Both surfaces showed similar bone area, while the bone-implant contact was 73% higher for the acid-etched surface. By resin cast etching, osteocytes were observed to maintain a direct intimate contact with the acid-etched surface. Although well mineralised, the interfacial tissue showed lower Ca/P and apatite-to-collagen ratios at the acid-etched surface, while mineral crystallinity and the carbonate-to-phosphate ratios were comparable for both implant surfaces. The interfacial tissue composition may therefore vary with changes in implant surface topography, independently of the amount of bone formed. Implant surfaces that influence bone to have higher amounts of organic matrix without affecting the crystallinity or the carbonate content of the mineral phase presumably result in a more resilient interfacial tissue, better able to resist crack development during functional loading than densely mineralised bone.

integration

surface

collagen

mechanisms

apatite

removal

orientation

Engineering

bone/implant interface

bone

Materials Science

osseointegration

Author

Furqan A. Shah

University of Gothenburg

Patrik Stenlund

University of Gothenburg

Anna Martinelli

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Peter Thomsen

University of Gothenburg

Anders Palmquist

University of Gothenburg

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine

0957-4530 (ISSN) 1573-4838 (eISSN)

Vol. 27 11 Article Number: 167- 167

Subject Categories

Biomaterials Science

DOI

10.1007/s10856-016-5779-1

PubMed

27699573

More information

Latest update

1/5/2023 1