Bone formation into surface phosphonylated polymeric implants

Through the use of two animal models, the present study demonstrates the ability of phosphonylated surfaces to bind bone. In one model, surface-treated polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were implanted in the medial cortex of the goat tibia. In the second model, surface-treated poly(ether-ether ketone) (PEEK) and carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK (CFR-PEEK) were implanted through both cortices of the goat mandible. Selected rods of all material types were microtextured using crystallization induced microphase separation, a method for the formation of continuous, open-cell microporous surfaces in thermoplastic polymers.' Microtextured and smooth rods were phosphonylated, and calcium was subsequently introduced to the phosphonylated surface by incubating the samples in a saturated solution of calcium oxide. 2-4 For all substrate materials tested, phosphonylation and calcium posttreatment resulted in an increased propensity for bone binding and apposition, as measured by push out test. Microtextured PP, PE, and CFR-PEEK surfaces that were further phosphonylated and calcium treated resulted in test samples with an increased interfacial strength.