Healing of complement activating Ti implants compared with non-activating Ti in rat tibia.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Orthopedic Research
• Immunology

Background:

• Ozone ultraviolet (UVO) illumination modifies titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) on titanium (Ti) implants, potentially enhancing bone-implant anchorage.
• Understanding early inflammatory and bone formation responses is crucial for optimizing dental and orthopedic implant success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare early inflammation and bone formation around UVO-treated Ti implants versus complement activating immunoglobulin G (IgG)-coated Ti implants in a rat tibia model.
• To evaluate the impact of surface treatments on cellular responses and osseointegration.

Main Methods:

• Screw-shaped Ti implants (UVO-treated, IgG-coated, machined, and physical vapour-deposited Ti) were implanted into rat tibias.
• Analysis included gene expression (IL-1β, TNF-α, osteocalcin, BMP-2), removal torque, and histomorphometry at 1, 7, and 28 days.

Main Results:

• UVO-treated surfaces showed significantly lower early inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β) compared to IgG-coated surfaces.
• Higher expression of osteoblast markers (BMP-2, osteocalcin) was observed on UVO-treated surfaces in the early healing phases.
• IgG-coated implants elicited a stronger inflammatory response with significant complement activation.

Conclusions:

• UVO treatment of Ti implants reduces early inflammation and enhances osteoblast marker expression compared to complement-activating IgG coatings.
• While UVO-treated Ti showed marginally increased bone growth, its reduced inflammatory response is a key advantage for osseointegration.