| This thesis investigates the feasibility of using a novel coating method to coat the biomedical implant materials polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and nitinol. In the field of orthopedics, many promising implant materials cannot easily bond directly to the surrounding bone. PEEK is a polymer which exhibits favorable mechanical properties and extreme chemical inertness. Nitinol is a nickel-titanium shape memory intermetallic which can undergo deformation when heated. This allows fixation of surrounding bone and tissues. While neither material is suitable to use as is, a coating of calcium phosphate (the primary mineral component of bone) has been shown to promote bone attachment. Many methods exist for depositing this coating, but the biomimetic method is attractive for its simplicity and high degree of similarity to actual bone chemistry. A faster formulation of the biomimetic method using microwave irradiation was used to coat PEEK and nitinol substrates. This coating was examined using several characterization methods, including scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and water contact angle measurements. The coatings exhibited the desired properties necessary for bone attachment, and warrant further clinical study. |
