Osteointegration of biomimetic apatite coating applied onto dense and porous metal implants in femurs of goats

Biomimetic calcium phosphate (Ca-P) coatings were applied onto dense titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) and porous tantalum (Ta) cylinders by immersion into simulated body fluid at 37 °C and then at 50 °C for 24 h. As a result, a homogeneous bone-like carbonated apatitic (BCA) coating, 30 m thick was deposited on the entire surface of the dense and porous implants. Noncoated and BCA-coated implants were press-fit implanted in the femoral diaphysis of 14 adult female goats. Bone contact was measured after implantation for 6, 12, and 24 weeks, and investigated by histology and backscattered electron microscopy (BSEM). After 6 weeks, bone contact of the BCA-coated Ti6Al4V implants was about 50%. After 12 and 24 weeks, bone contact was lower in comparison with the 6-week implantations at, respectively 24 and 39%. Regarding the BCA-coated porous Ta implants, bone contacts were 17, 30, and 18% after 6, 12, and 24 weeks, respectively. However, bone contact was always found significantly higher for BCA-coated dense Ti6Al4V and porous Ta cylinders than the corresponding noncoated implants. The results of this study show that the BCA coating enhances the bone integration as compared to the noncoated implants.