• Al-Ani, M. D.
• Hill, Robert G.
• Chen, Xiaohui

Abstract

Purpose: Bioactive glasses (BG) have been used as enameled coatings for implants. Recently, bioactive glass 45S5 was employed as an abrasive in modifying implant surface by grit blasting to embed BG particles into the Titanium surface to promote faster osseointegration. In this study, the possibility of providing low sodium bioactive glass coating for Titanium implant by grit blasting was investigated.<br/><br/>Methods and Materials: Bioactive glass Na2.5 with low sodium content was synthesized by a melt-quench route. The particle size and distribution were analyzed using particle size analyzer and Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM). Fifteen Titanium discs were grit blasted for a period of 30 seconds using the coarse powder of BG Na2.5 with different working distances under a constant air pressure at 3 bars and a powder flow rate setting of 4. The retention of BG Na2.5 on the Titanium surface was investigated using back scattered SEM equipped with energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The percentage coverage of titanium surface by BG Na2.5 was estimated on back scattered SEM images. The maximum depth, diameter and surface roughness of the blasted area were evaluated by a white light profilometry. The apatite formation of the low sodium BG Na2.5 was studied in simulated body fluid (SBF) by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).<br/><br/>Results: The coarse low sodium content BG Na2.5 showed a narrow particle size distribution, where 50% of the particles was less than 69.85 (1.17) µm. SEM images of the glass showed irregular shape with angular edges. Back scattered SEM with EDS confirmed the distinct compositional difference on the bright and dark areas of the BG grit blasted Titanium surface. The Ca:P:Si:Na ratio of the dark areas was comparable to the ratio of BG Na2.5. Percentage coverage of the dark area was between 41.9% - 47.6% for different working distances. A linear relationship between the diameter of the blasted area and the working distance was found and the surface roughness of the blasted Titanium surface decreased with an increase in working distance. Rapid apatite formation of BG Na2.5 was evident after 3 hours immersion in SBF. <br/><br/>Conclusion: Low sodium bioactive glass coating for titanium surface was successfully achieved by grit blasting. BG Na2.5 showed fast apatite formation. Titanium implants with grid blasted low sodium bioactive glass coating are expected to demonstrate improved osseointegration characteristics. <br/>

Topics

• surface
• scanning electron microscopy
• melt
• glass
• glass
• laser emission spectroscopy
• Sodium
• titanium
• Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
• profilometry