Magdalena Łukaszewska-Kuska, Piotr Krawczyk, Agnieszka Martyła, Wieslaw Hedzelek, Barbara Dorocka-Bobkowska
Osseointegration is a crucial factor for successful implantation in both the long and short term. The success of this process is largely dependent on the implant surface for osseointegration, which can be determined by implant stability tests. The objective of the study was to investigate the application of a hydroxyapatite (HA) coating deposited on titanium implants by a modified electrochemical method and the effects on osseointegration. Materials and Methods: Titanium implants with HA coatings and controls with Al2O3 grit-blasted surfaces were embedded into rabbit tibia. The chemical composition of the implants, roughness, and morphology were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), and optical profilometry. Implant stability tests were performed and PTV values for Periotest and ISQ values for Ostell Mentor were recorded in order to evaluate the osseointegration. Results: Surface characterization of the implants revealed a microstructure with an Sa varying from 0.71–1.04 µm. The HA coating was free of contamination while the controls were enriched with corundum. After healing, a statistically significant increase in the mean ISQ and a decrease in the mean PTV values for the HA coated implants was observed. In the case of the control implants, only the PTV values increased significantly with time. Conclusions: The present study found that implant surface properties affected implant stability as determined by Ostell and Periotest measurements. The HA electro-deposited coating reported herein was found to have chemical and physical properties which appeared to improve osseointegration compared to grit-blasted implants.