Assessment of the Addition of Fluorapatite-Alumina Coating for a Durable Adhesion of the Interface Prosthesis/Bone Cells: Implementation In Vivo

PurposeFluorapatite (Fap), an alumina (Al2O3) known for its excellent bio-inertia, can significantly increase the biocompatibility and bioactivity of biomaterials. This study is an investigation of the interface bone/Al2O3-Fap composite coatings implanted in the tibia of the rabbit.MethodsTwo techniques T1 and T2 were implemented on four rabbits, R1-R4 to assess the effect of the alumina (Al2O3)-Fap [Ca-10(PO4)(6)F-2] composite, coating for 316L stainless steel, on bone contact. The fluorapatite powder was synthesized using a wet-chemical method. The biocompatibility and the bioactivity of the Al2O3-Fap composite were evaluated by in vitro/in vivo tests. The characteristics of the bone/implant interface were investigated with scanning electron microscopy, radiology and 3D scanner.ResultsThe results showed that T2 was more effective than T1, with a good contact between the implant/bone on the radiographs performed after 28 days. Implants coated with alumina did not show any integration signs with bone tissue. The addition of Fap to alumina coating would increase the adhesion of prosthesis on bone cells and guarantee a stable implantation.ConclusionAl(2)O(3)-Fap coating showed excellent behavior in vitro and in vivo tests revealing that the Fap is effective in improving biocompatibility and bioactivity.