2005 Volume 68 Issue 1 Pages 79-91
I fabricated implants covered with a thin film of hydroxyapatite (HAp) using the pulse laser-deposition technique (PLD). They had good mechanical properties, crystal structure, and homogeneity in composition, all of which are needed for good clinical results. I performed animal experiments to evaluate the osteoconductivity and did quantitative analysis on implants with a 50nm and a 300nm ultra thin film of HAp. I found that bone conduction by the film was adequate in the early stages, even though it was thin, suggesting that this technique might improve clinical results. I confirmed that the PLD technique produces an HAp film with improved mechanical properties, such as increased tensile strength and decreased film thickness.
