Accelerated and enhanced bone formation on novel simvastatin-loaded porous titanium oxide surfaces

With increasing application of dental implants in poor-quality bones, the need for implant surfaces ensuring accelerated osseointegration and enhanced peri-implant bone regeneration is increased.

A study was performed to evaluate the osseointegration and bone formation on novel simvastatin-loaded porous titanium oxide surface.

Titanium screws were treated by micro-arc oxidation to form porous oxide surface and 25 or 50 μg of simvastatin was loaded. The nontreated control, micro-arc oxidized, and simvastatin-loaded titanium screws were surgically implanted into the proximal tibia of 16-week-old male Wistar rats (n = 36). Peri-implant bone volume, bone-implant contact, and mineral apposition rates were measured at 2 and 4 weeks. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's post hoc test.

New bone was formed directly on the implant surface in the bone marrow cavity in simvastatin-loaded groups since 2 weeks. Bone-implant contact values were significantly higher in simvastatin-loaded groups than control and micro-arc oxidized groups at both time points (p < .05). Peri-implant bone volume and mineral apposition rate of simvastatin-loaded groups were significantly higher than control and micro-arc oxidized groups at 2 weeks (p < .05).

These data suggested that simvastatin-loaded porous titanium oxide surface provides faster osseointegration and peri-implant bone formation and it would be potentially applicable in poor-quality bones.