Titanium is a popular orthopaedic implant material, but it requires surface modification techniques to improve osseointegration and long term functionality. This project compares a new method of modifying surface topography (nano-patterning) with an existing clinical technology (grit-blasting and acid-etching (GAE)).

Titanium discs were blasted with aluminium oxide and etched in sulphuric and acetic acid. Injection moulded discs (with two different nano-patterns) were coated in titanium by evaporation. The topography and chemistry of the discs was assessed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle measurements, and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS). Two discs were plated bilaterally onto a flattened area of the tibiae of 12 rabbits. Tibiae were removed after 4 and 8 weeks for histological assessment of the bone-implant contact (BIC) ratio.

AFM and SEM demonstrated a difference in pattern between the square array of nano-pits (SQ) and the randomly positioned nano-pits (RAND). The GAE implants exhibited increased surface roughness (Ra = 570nm) compared to the titanium coated SQ and RAND implants (Ra = 12nm). Water contact angle measurements showed the surface had comparable wettability and XPS demonstrated similar chemical compositions, except GAE surfaces contained 6.8% aluminium.

Histological samples analysed at 4 weeks showed a BIC ratio of 36% for GAE, 56% for SQ, and 48% for RAND. At 8 weeks, the BIC ratio was 52% for GAE, 80% for SQ, and 72% for RAND implants. This increase in BIC at 8 weeks for both SQ and RAND implants compared to GAE was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

This project demonstrated there was an increase in interfacial bone to implant contact when using a nano-scale topography incorporating nano-pits compared to conventional grit-blasted acid-etched micro-scale topographies. This enhancement of BIC may reduce long term loosening of orthopaedic implants due to mechanical and biological attrition at the interface.