Formation of calcium phosphates on titanium implants with four different bioactive surface preparations. An in vitro study.

The aim of the present study was to compare the nucleating and growing behaviour on four types of bioactive surfaces by using the simulated body fluid (SBF) model. Titanium discs were blasted and then prepared by alkali and heat treatment, anodic oxidation, fluoridation, or hydroxyapatite coating. The discs were immersed in SBF for 1, 2, 4 and 6 weeks. Calcium phosphates were found on all specimens, as analysed with scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDX). After 1 and 2 weeks of SBF immersion more titanium was accessible with SEM/EDX on the blasted surfaces than the four bioactive surface types, indicating a difference in coverage by calcium phosphates. The Ca/P mean ratio of the surfaces was approximately 1.5 after 1 week, in contrast to the fluoridated specimens which displayed a Ca/P mean ratio of approximately 2. Powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD) analyses showed the presence of hydroxyapatite on all types of surfaces after 4 and 6 weeks of immersion. The samples immersed for 6 weeks showed a higher degree of crystallinity than the samples immersed for 4 weeks. In conclusion, differences appeared at the early SBF immersion times of 1 and 2 weeks between controls and bioactive surface types, as well as between different bioactive surface types.