Summary
The use of an electrochemical process for coating biomolecules onto titanium based bone anchored dental implant materials was investigated. The results showed that the surface hydrogen content of a sand-blasted and acid-etched (SBAE) surface may be altered by electrochemical polarization in acidic solution. It was suggested that a hydrogen-rich, SBAE surface provides an appropriate substrate for attaching charged biomolecules to titanium based materials such a process whilst decreasing the process time in comparison to an unmodified surface.
The created hydride layer was used as an intermediate layer for linker-free attachment of biomolecules to the surface while maintaining the original surface topography in a range that is commonly regarded as desired for endosseous dental implants. The results showed that enamel matrix derivate and strontium were successfully attached to the surfaces. Both coatings were bio-available, intact, and had maintained their bioactivity. The results of an in vitro study suggested that the surface coatings had improved bioactive properties over non-coated surfaces whilst the effect of the coating could neither be supported nor rejected in an in vivo study.
Committee
- Dr. Cornelia Wolf- Brandstetter
- Leitender Oberassistent, dr. med. MD Marcus Eblenkamp
- Post doctor, Ph.d. Carl Hjortsjö - committee leader