Coating of titanium implants with collagen, RGD peptide and chondroitin sulfate

Coating of orthopaedic implants with extracellular bone matrix components was performed to enhance bone healing. Titanium pins of 0.8mm diameter were coated with type I collagen (Ti/Coll), RGD peptide (Ti/RGD) or type I collagen and chondroitin sulfate (Ti/Coll/CS). Uncoated pins (Ti) served as control. The pins were inserted as intramedullary nails into the tibia of male adult Wistar rats. Six specimens of each group were retrieved at 4, 7, 14 and 28 days. All implants healed uneventfully without adverse reactions. ED 1-positive macrophages appeared in higher numbers around Ti/RGD at day 4 and around Ti at day 14 after implantation (p < 0.05). TRAP-positive osteoclasts and precursors were abundant around Ti/Coll/CS at day 7 (p < 0.05). A significant increase in osteopontin-positive osteoblasts was seen around Ti/Coll/CS implants at days 7 and 14, and around Ti/RGD at day 14 (p < 0.05). At day 28, 62% of Ti, 76% of Ti/Coll, 85%* of Ti/RGD and 89%* of Ti/CoIl/CS (*p < 0.05) implants were covered with newly formed lamellar bone. The addition of extracellular matrix components significantly enhances bone remodelling in the early stages of bone healing around Ti implants, eventually leading to increased new bone formation at the implant surface after 4 weeks.