In vivo Osteogenerating Properties of Calcium Phosphate Coatings on Ti-6Al-4V Titanium Alloy

The task of developing means of forming biocoatings improving the characteristics of metal implant bases remains important and current in contemporary implantology. Creation of bioactive layers with high levels of compatibility with bone tissue on implant surfaces is beneficial for better adaptation of the body to the implant. Introduction of such coatings, lacking adverse (toxic) actions, into the living body should strengthen osteointegration with bone tissue and stimulate regeneration processes. Bioactive calcium phosphate layers are of particular interest, as these contain calcium phosphate, which is “native” to bone tissue. Studies in this direction will lead to the development of a new method in medicine − bone tissue engineering. A means of forming a calcium phosphate coating on the medical titanium alloy BT6 (Ti containing 3.5-5.3% by weight V, 5.3-6.8% Al) by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) was developed. The calcium phosphate coating was obtained in a bipolar PEO regime in a glycerophosphate-containing electrolyte. The osteogenerating properties of the coating were assessed in fractures of the diaphyseal part of the femur in Wistar lab rats. The calcium phosphate PEO coating was found to accelerate osteogenesis and promoted the formation of good periosteal callus at the fracture site.