Biomolecular of coating of titanium alloy implants for improved healing

The excellent biocompatibility of titanium is well established. Titanium and its alloys are widely applied in dental and orthopedic implants such as prostheses and joint replacements. Its excellent biocompatibility, great mechanical strength and high cor rosion resistance has been known for decades. Titanium-based implants with native oxide films have shown long-term clinical success. The natural oxide film on titanium is inert and only some nanometers thick. Its thickness can be more than tenfold incre ased by anodic oxidation. It is hardly much gained by this. Despite the general good performance, enhancement of implant integration in bone is still an important area of research in reconstructive medicine. The most common approach is to optimize the s urface roughness by mechanical and chemical methods, sometimes both in combination. Currently, there are no commercial available titanium alloy implants which are coated with biomolecules to improve bone formation and osseointegration. There are several candidate for biomolecules such as Emdogain®. Emdogain® consists of a mixture of enamel matrix proteins and their derivatives, which promotes growth of all periodontal tissues. Emdogain was in fact developed by Corticalis CEO, Prof. Lyngstadaas during his period as R&D manager at BIORA AB. Emdogain is a recently introduced product that fools the body into forming new bone, cementum, and attachment fibers. Technically, it is enamel matrix proteins (amelogenins) that are taken from developing teeth in pigs. These proteins are similar in all mammals, and humans do not recognize them as foreign. Other candidate are statins. An ideal biomolecule should be 1) Synthetic, 2) Auto-clavable, 3) Easy to work with (dissolve in hydridation solution, tolerate pH of hyd ridation conditions), 4) Stabile during Storage, 5) Available, 6) Already on the market (easier FDA approval of the device)