Purpose: To develop a surface coating of sol-gel 70S30C bioactive glass (BAG) nanoparticles on titanium disks and dental implants and characterize the BAG coating from the standpoint of average surface roughness, adhesion strength, and coating stability upon implant insertion under clinical settings.
Materials and Methods: BAG was prepared using a modified sol-gel technique, then milled into nanoparticles. The resultant powder was characterized in terms of phase structure, composition, and particle size. Titanium disks and dental implants were coated with BAG nanoparticles via electrophoretic deposition. Surface characterization of coated implants was conducted. Uncoated and BAGcoated implants were examined for average surface roughness using a confocal laser scanning microscope. Pull-off tests were conducted to measure the adhesion strength of the BAG coating to the underlying disks. To measure the amount of coating loss and evaluate the effect of insertion on coating thickness, coated implants were inserted under clinical settings into artificial and natural bones.
Results: BAG nanoparticles had an amorphous structure with particle sizes < 20 nm in diameter. Electrophoresis resulted in a continuous coating that covered the whole implant surface. Microscopic analysis confirmed the porous nanostructure of the BAG coating, which formed a homogenous surface with microcracks. The BAG coating had a uniform thickness of 35.38 ± 4.67 μm. The average surface roughness was significantly lower for BAG-coated implants, with less surface irregularities (3.34 ± 0.45 μm for uncoated implants, 1.45 ± 0.23 μm for BAG-coated implants). An adhesion strength of 18.51 ± 3.37 MPa was recorded for the BAG coating. After insertion into artificial bone, 66.23 ± 10.23% of the coating weight remained on the implant surface. A reduction in the thickness of the BAG coating only occurred in sites of high friction with bone after implant insertion into bovine bone.
Conclusions: Coating titanium implants with 70S30C BAG nanoparticles is attainable through electrophoretic deposition and results in a homogenous coating layer with a moderately rough surface, considerable adhesion strength, and high coating stability during implant insertion.