Enhanced Osteoconductivity of Positively Charged Titanium Metal
We previously found that a positively charged Ti metal has a higher apatite forming ability in vitro than a non-charged Ti metal. For in vivo analysis using a rabbit model, two types of Ti metal were examined: porous Ti metals heat-treated subsequent to a mixed acid treatment (MHs) and porous Ti metals not heat-treated subsequent to the same mixed acid treatment (MOs). Although MHs and MOs had the same macro- and micro-structure, they had different surface charges. MHs, considered positively charged, had significantly higher bone ingrowth than MOs, considered charged zero. Similarly, MHs had significantly higher percentages of bone–implant contact than MOs at 3- and 6-week. A simple heat treatment made acid-treated porous titanium implants more osteoconductive. These results suggest that a positive charge obtained by a heat treatment enhances bioactivity of acid-treated titanium implants.