A novel biomimetic treatment for an improved osteointegration of titanium.

Direct osteointegration of titanium and titanium alloys implants is one of the main goals of biomaterials research for dental and orthopedic applications. Chemical, mechanical or biological treatments are investigated searching for fast and durable implant to bone bonding. The aim of the present work is to assess the in vitro mineralisation capabilities and to investigate the mechanical and physico-chemical properties of a new biomimetic treatment on titanium. The new surface treatment was obtained using Anodic Spark Deposition technique, and consists of a first ASD treatment performed in solutions containing phosphate ions followed by a second ASD treatment in a solution rich in calcium ions. The resulting surface is finally treated by alkali etching. The physio-chemical and mechanical properties of this material are analyzed and the mineralization potential is considered by surface analysis after soaking it in different solutions of simulated body fluid (SBF). The developed biomimetic treatment was then compared to other treatments from the literature. The proposed treatment was found to possess a very high mineralization capaci-ty, that makes its application very interesting in terms of speed and strength of direct implant osteointegration. (Journal of Ap-plied Biomaterials & Biomechanics 2003; 1: 33-42).