2 Experimental study on bone growth around titanium implants coated with ultra thin pulse laser-deposited hydroxyapatite

Abstract

We 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. We performed animal experiments to evaluate the osteoconductivity and did quantitative analysis on 50 nm ultra thin film. We found that bone conduction by the HAp film was adequate in the early stages, even though it was thin, suggesting that this technique might improve clinical results. We confirmed that the PLD technique produces an HAp film with improved mechanical properties, such as increased tensile strength and decreased film thickness.