CORDIS - Resultados de investigaciones de la UE
CORDIS

Sonoelectrochemical Technology of Manufacturing a Bioactive Hydroxypatite Coating on Carbon/Carbon Composites

Final Activity Report Summary - SONELTECH (Sonoelectrochemical Technology of Manufacturing a Bioactive Hydroxypatite Coating on Carbon/Carbon Composites)

Carbon is a versatile element and exists in a variety of forms. Carbon, in all its forms (carbonaceous materials), has been demonstrated uniquely biocompatible with living bone and other tissue and therefore is a kind of biomaterial well accepted by the biological environment. To improve the biological activity of carbon implants, ceramic calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings, especially hydroxyapatite (HA), can be applied onto the implant surfaces. CaP coatings convert surfaces into a more bioactive state, which enhances bone apposition. As a result, one of the most promising bio-ceramic materials, CaP coated carbon materials that combining the advantages of carbon with the bioactive character of CaP, would be expected in repairing and re-constructing of bone and tissue defects. CaP coating is assumed to induce and accelerate the initial bone tissue attachment followed by the substrate carbon takes over osteoconductive and / or osteointegrative functions.

Sonoelectrodeposition methodology has been developed in this project to produce bioactive CaP, particularly HA, on carbon substrates. Indeed, this technique involves low temperature and allows controlling the thickness, the morphology, and the chemical composition of the coatings through adequate conditions of the process.

However, the success or the failure of the elaborated implants depends on the control and consequences of the cell behaviour after implantation. Thus, the first and essential step for bone tissue-implant interface study is in vitro tests using osteoblast cells. Human osteoblast-like MG63 cell line was used to study the interactions between cells and biomaterial and study the biocompatibility of biomaterials in this project. The cell morphology was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the cell proliferation and viability by biological techniques.

The results showed that CaP coatings prepared by sonoelectrodeposition technique enhance the bioactivity of carbon materials. The morphology, structure and composition of the CaP coatings was shown to be dependent on the specific conditions used in the process and found to have a significant effects on osteoblast / material interaction.