Evaluation Of The Biocompatibility Of A Novel CaTiO₃Coating In Vivo

Objective:This study was designed to evaluate the biocompatibility of a novel CaTiO3coating material via an animal experiment, comparing osteointegrative activity of titanium substrate, traditional HA coating and our CaTiO3coating. This study investigated the potential of the CaTiO3coating to be a novel substitution of implant coating material.Method:Three types of screws (type1:coated with HA; type2: coated with CaTiO3; type3:untreated titanium screws) were implanted respectively into the medial and lateral femoral condyles of48New Zealand rabbits. Imaging, histological and mechanical investigation were employed in the end of2,4,8and12weeks, to evaluate the material osteointegration.Results:(1) All of the experimental rabbits were healthy along the experiment process.(2) Imaging investigation:no fracture of femoral condyles, no implants loosing and no radiation lucent zone surrounding the implants were detected by x-ray imaging.(3) Histological investigation revealed by microscopy:bone tissue surrounding the screws coated with HA and CaTiO3were fully regenerated and well integrated with absence of the interfacial fibrous layer.(4) Mechanical investigation: the bonding strength of CaTiO3coating with bone tissue was significantly higher than titanium materials without coating, but lower than those coated with HA.Conclusion:CaTiO3coating possesses the similar admirable biocompatibility and osteointegration activity to HA coating. Chemical bonds contribute to the tight integration of CaTiO3coating with titanium substrate and possible with bond tissue, which make it to be a promising coating material to implants in orthopedics.