INTRODUCTION:
UCLA researchers in the Department of Plastic Surgery and Dentistry have developed a nanoscale galvanic redox system on the surface of metal implants to enhance its osseointegration.
BACKGROUND:
The biological interface between an orthopedic implant and the surrounding host tissue has critical effects on clinical outcome. Implant loosening, fibrous encapsulation, corrosion, infection, and inflammation, as well as physical mismatch, may have deleterious effects on implant integration. Osseointegration (bony ingrowth) and osteogenesis stimulation (bone formation) are desired upon implant insertion to improve clinical outcomes. Osseointegration of implants has been improved through surface modification techniques, including surface roughening to create a three-dimensional architecture. Moreover, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were coated on metal implants for an antimicrobial effect. While electrical forces from the AgNPs have been shown to promote osteogenesis, creating practical materials and devices capable of harnessing these forces to induce bone regeneration remains challenging.
INNOVATION:
UCLA researchers have developed a nanoscale galvanic redox system on the surface of metal implants to establish a surface potential that enhances their osseointegration. The invention can be applied to commercial implant surfaces to improve osseointegration. This technology can be used in deep bone tissue as well as joints such as the knee, hip, and shoulders where external electrostimulation is hardly applicable due to variation in shape. There is flexibility in choosing the type of metals that form the galvanic redox system. Moreover, the invention is not limited to metal-based implants but extends to all implants which can establish a galvanic redox system on the surface through a surface coating.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
• Orthopedic implants
• Other biological implants
• Device coatings
ADVANTAGES:
• Can be applied to commercially available implants
• Can be used in deep bone tissue
• Flexibility in type of metals used
• Extends beyond metal-based implants to all implants