Collagen type I coating stimulates bone regeneration and osteointegration of titanium implants in the osteopenic rat

To investigate the effects of titanium implants functionalised with collagen type I (TiColl) on bone regeneration and osteointegration in a healthy and osteopenic rat animal model.

TiColl screws were implanted into the femoral condyles of healthy and osteopenic rats and compared with acid-etched titanium (Ti) screws. The osteointegration process was evaluated by a complementary approach combining microtomographic, histological, histomorphometric and biomechanical investigations at four and 12 weeks.

The TiColl screw also ensured a greater mechanical stability; the push-out values for TiColl screws increased from four to 12 weeks (+28 %). The energy necessary to detach the bone from the screw was significantly higher for TiColl-functionalised screws in comparison to Ti screws (+23 %) at 12 weeks. Histomorphometric investigation revealed that total bone-to-implant contact was higher in TiColl screws in comparison to Ti screws (P < 0.05) and at epiphyseal level, increased bone-to-implant contact was found with TiColl screws in comparison to Ti screws (P < 0.05) in an ovariectomy (OVX) condition. A significant increase in the measured total bone ingrowth from four to 12 weeks was detected for both materials, but more significant for the TiColl material (P < 0.0005). Finally, bone ingrowth in the TiColl group was significantly higher (P < 0.005) in comparison to that of Ti screws in the SHAM condition at metaphyseal level at 12 weeks.

The present results showed that TiColl is effective in promoting implant osteointegration even in compromised bone.