Gallium and silver-doped titanium surfaces provide enhanced osteogenesis, reduce bone resorption and prevent bacterial infection in co-culture.

Bacterial infection remains a significant problem associated with orthopaedic surgeries leading to surgical site infection (SSI). This unmet medical need can become an even greater complication when surgery is due to malignant bone tumor. In the present study, we evaluated in vitro titanium (Ti) implants subjected to gallium (Ga) and silver (Ag)-doped thermochemical treatment as strategy to prevent SSI and improve osteointegration in bone defects caused by diseases such as osteoporosis, bone tumor, or bone metastasis.

Gallium-doped thermochemically treated titanium reduces osteoclastogenesis and improves osteodifferentiation.

Excessive bone resorption is one of the main causes of bone homeostasis alterations, resulting in an imbalance in the natural remodeling cycle. This imbalance can cause diseases such as osteoporosis, or it can be exacerbated in bone cancer processes. In such cases, there is an increased risk of fractures requiring a prosthesis.

Dual-Action Effect of Gallium and Silver Providing Osseointegration and Antibacterial Properties to Calcium Titanate Coatings on Porous Titanium Implants.

Previously, functional coatings on 3D-printed titanium implants were developed to improve their biointegration by separately incorporating Ga and Ag on the biomaterial surface. Now, a thermochemical treatment modification is proposed to study the effect of their simultaneous incorporation. Different concentrations of AgNO and Ga(NO) are evaluated, and the obtained surfaces are completely characterized.

Surface competition between osteoblasts and bacteria on silver-doped bioactive titanium implant.

The rapid integration in the bone tissue and the prevention of bacterial infection are key for the success of the implant. In this regard, a silver (Ag)-doped thermochemical treatment that generate an Ag-doped calcium titanate layer on titanium (Ti) implants was previously developed by our group to improve the bone-bonding ability and provide antibacterial activity. In the present study, the biological and antibacterial potential of this coating has been further studied.

On-Growth and In-Growth Osseointegration Enhancement in PM Porous Ti-Scaffolds by Two Different Bioactivation Strategies: Alkali Thermochemical Treatment and RGD Peptide Coating.

A lack of primary stability and osteointegration in metallic implants may result in implant loosening and failure. Adding porosity to metallic implants reduces the stress shielding effect and improves implant performance, allowing the surrounding bone tissue to grow into the scaffold. However, a bioactive surface is needed to stimulate implant osteointegration and improve mechanical stability.