A novel surface treatment for porous metallic implants that improves the rate of bony ongrowth

Rapid implant fixation could prove beneficial in a host of clinical applications from total joint arthroplasty to trauma. We hypothesized that a novel self-assembled monolayer of phosphonate molecules (SAMP) covalently bonded to the oxide surface of titanium alloy would enhance bony integration. Beaded metallic rods were treated with one of three coatings: SAMP, SAMP + RGD peptide, or hydroxyapatite. Rods were inserted retrogradely into both distal femurs of 60 rabbits. Fifteen rabbits were sacrificed at 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks. At each time, seven specimens for mechanical pull-out testing and three for histomorphometric analysis were available for each coating. At four weeks, both SAMP groups had significantly higher failure loads when compared to hydroxyapatite (p < 0.01). No significant differences were found among groups at other times, though the SAMP-alone group remained stronger at 16 weeks. Histology showed abundant new bone formation around all the three groups, though more enhanced formation was apparent in the two SAMP groups. With this novel treatment, with or without RGD, the failure load of implants doubled in half the time as compared with hydroxyapatite. Where early implant fixation is important, the SAMP treatment provides a simple, cost-effective enhancement to bony integration of orthopaedic implants.