Medical Science Monitor 2008-02-01

Improved osseointegration of PTFEP-coated titanium implants.

Felix Zeifang, Michael Grunze, Gunter Delling, Helga Lorenz, Christian Heisel, Georgios Tosounidis, Desiderius Sabo, Hans-Georg Simank, Joerg H Holstein

Index: Med. Sci. Monit. 14(2) , BR35-40, (2008)

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Abstract

Clinical success of bone implants is critically related to the interaction between the implant surface and the surrounding tissue. The polymer poly(bis(trifluoroethoxy)phosphazene) (PTFEP) is a promising, highly biocompatible surface coating which also inhibits the adsorption of granulocytes, macrophages, inflammatory cells, bacteria, and platelets. However, there is limited clinical experience of PTFEP as a coating for bone implants. Therefore PTFEP-coated titanium implants in an animal model were examined.PTFEP-coated titanium cylinders were implanted into the lateral femoral condyles of rabbits. Osseointegration was examined six weeks and six months after implantation using a non-destructive mechanical pull-out measurement and a histological analysis.The results indicate improved osseointegration of PTFEP-coated implants. Six weeks after implantation, the PTFEP-coated implants showed a higher stiffness (pull-out length [pol]=7.1+/-2.0 microm) compared with uncoated cylinders (pol=10.2+/-3.4 microm, p<0.05). Six months after implantation, the mechanical properties of both implants had adjusted, and histological analysis revealed an increased bone-implant interface of PTFEP-coated cylinders compared with the first 6 weeks (17.5% vs. 8.2% in controls, p<0.05).Taken together, the results of this preliminary study indicate promising applications of PTFEP as a coating material for bone implants.