NiTi laser textured implants with improved in vivo osseointegration: an experimental study in rats

Abstract

Laser surface texturing is a versatile approach for manufacturing implants with suitable surfaces for osseointegration. This work explores the use of laser to fabricate NiTi textured implants, testing two different groove-based designs. Their performance was evaluated in vivo through implantation in Sprague Dawley rats’ femur, being then analyzed after 4 and 12 weeks of implantation. Push-out experiments and histological characterization allowed to assess bone-implant bond and osseointegration and to compare the laser textured solutions with non-textured NiTi. Histology showed that, at 4 weeks of implantation, mainly immature woven bone was present whilst at 12 weeks a more mature bone had developed. Considering the largest implantation time (12 weeks), results showed extraction forces considerably higher for textured implants (G2 and G3). Moreover, when comparing G2 and G3, it was found that G2 (having the highest textured surface area) displayed the maximum extraction force among all groups, with an increase of 212% when compared to non-textured implants (G1).

These results prove that the design and manufacturing technology are effective to promote an improved bone-implant bond, aiming the development of orthopedic implants.