Thin Calcium Phosphate Coatings For Medical Implants

This book presents for the first time, the scattered novel results that have been achieved in very recent years in study on various thin calcium phosphate coatings produced by very diverse techniques. The comparison of thin calcium phosphate coatings with the thick plasma-sprayed ones is also included in the book. Readers will find a comprehensive book reviewing the state-of-the-art of the field with critical assessment of the achievements of the different preparation techniques.

This book provides in-depth assessment on the latest clinical advances in multifunctional calcium phosphate nanocoatings and its influence on bone regeneration and early healing following implantation. A greater emphasis will be placed on the use of nanocomposite coatings to deliver biological materials such as mesenchymal stem cells, growth factors, bone morphogenetic and extracellular matrix proteins, and pharmaceutics such as simvastatin to improve and promote bone growth as well as reducing the timeframe needed for implant integration in both healthy and osteoporotic patients. The content of the book caters to clinical practitioners and researchers working in the field of biomaterials for bone regeneration.

Reflecting the progress in recent years, this book provides in-depth information on the preparation, chemistry, and engineering of bioceramic coatings for medical implants. It is authored by two renowned experts with over 30 years of experience in industry and academia, who know the potentials and pitfalls of the techniques concerned. Following an introduction to the principles of biocompatibility, they present the structures and properties of various bioceramics from alumina to zirconia. The main part of the work focuses on coating technologies, such as chemical vapor deposition, sol-gel deposition and thermal spraying. There then follows a discussion of the major interactions of bioceramics with bone or tissue cells, complemented by an overview of the in-vitro testing methods of the biomineralization properties of bioceramics. The text is rounded off by chapters on the functionalization of bioceramic coatings and a look at future trends. As a result, the authors bring together all aspects of the latest techniques for designing, depositing, testing, and implementing improved and novel bioceramic coating compositions, providing a full yet concise overview for beginners and professionals.

In joint replacement surgery with suboptimal bone, allograft materials are often used to achieve biological fixation of the metallic implant to the host bone and reducing the implant fixation time. The most commonly used techniques are cemented and hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated metallic implants. Typically, HA coatings are suggested for patients with better bone stock, whereas recommended implant fixation process for most other osteoporotic patients is bone cements. In general, there is a long-standing need to improve the performance of hip and other devices for longer in vivo implant lifetime that can help in reducing the number of revision surgeries, as well as minimizing physical and mental trauma to the patient. To achieve these goals, it is important to understand the mechanical and biological properties of coatings that can influence not only its short- and long-term bioactivity but also life span in vivo. Over the years, it has been recognized that the stability of a coated implant is governed by its physical and mechanical properties. A coating that separates from the implant provides no advantage over an uncoated implant and undesirable due to problems with debris materials, which can lead to osteolysis. Therefore, it is important to properly characterize the coated implants in terms of its physical and mechanical properties. In this chapter, specific details on coating characterization techniques including sample dimensions, sample preparation, experimental procedure and data interpretation are discussed. In particular, the standards and requirements of regulatory organizations are presented elucidating the significance and use of each characterization. It is important to appreciate that mechanical properties of coatings can only be determined with certain coating specification such as coating thickness. This chapter is designed even for non-experts to follow mechanical property characterizations of coatings on medical implants.

Total joint arthroplasty is an effective surgical procedure for end-stage osteoarthritis of major joints with satisfactory long term clinical outcome. A large and growing number of arthroplasties are performed annually worldwide and a great number of orthopaedic surgeons are practicing arthroplasty surgery as their main surgical activity. The biological behavior of the bone-implant interface is crucial for the long term survival of the artificial joint. All factors which have a positive or negative effect on the interface are of great interest for those practicing arthroplasty surgery. Basic scientists and the industry are continuously searching for new implant fixation mechanisms and improved materials. There is an accumulation of a great amount of basic science data (both biological, material and mechanical) related to the incorporation or loosening of the bone-implant interface. However, basic science data does not always translate to satisfactory clinical application, and orthopaedic practitioners often wonder which piece of information is clinically useful. A further problem is that basic scientists often speak their own scientific language and may not fully appreciate common clinical practice needs. In this textbook the biological and mechanical mechanisms of implant incorporation and loosening will be presented. All new data concerning materials and methods for incorporation enhancement will be critically analyzed. Data useful for clinical application will be stressed. Orthopaedic Surgeons will find information which will improve their clinical practice and basic scientists will be helped to understand and appreciate clinical needs.

Octacalcium Phosphate Biomaterials: Past, Present and Future is a comprehensive study of octacalcium phosphate (OCP), a next generation biomaterial for bone regeneration. By focusing both on fundamental research and the use of OCP as a scaffold material, this book explores its potential to deliver improved clinical results. Early chapters in the book discuss OCP's effects on bone cell activity, cellular interactions and their role in bone formation, repair and replacement. Later chapters cover topics such as drug delivery, synthesis methodologies and future analysis techniques. This will be an invaluable and unique resource for researchers, clinicians, students and industrialists in the area of orthopedics and dentistry. OCP is known to be a pre-cursor to hydroxyapatite in the human biomineralization process that forms bone and tooth enamel. Research studies that have emerged in recent years suggest OCP's tremendous potential as a bioactive material. Contains comprehensive, up-to-date information on the basic science, including physical, chemical and biological properties Presents the clinical potential of octacalcium phosphate biomaterials Provides a reference point for new research and increased activity in the area of next generation smarter biomaterials for hard tissue repair and regeneration