Evaluation of a new nano-coating on implant osseointegration: a study on spiral fixtures inserted in New Zealand white rabbits

Titanium is the gold standard among materials used for prosthetic devices because of its good mechanical and chemical properties. When exposed to oxygen, titanium becomes an oxide that is biocompatible and able to induce osseointegration. There are three allotropic forms of titanium dioxide: brookite, ruffle and anatase. Anatase can be prepared as a colloidal suspension and then used to coat surfaces. Anatase coating (AC) can potentially have specific biologic effects. Here we test the effect of AC on bone throughout an in vivo study by using spiral dental implants covered with AC and then inserted in rabbit tibia. The histologic analysis has demonstrated that (1) bone growth is equal around AC and standard fixtures but (2) AC fixtures have an antibacterical propriety that protect implants from subsequent peri-implantitis. This study demonstrated that AC implant inserted in rabbit tibia guarantee a good osseointegration of normal titanium implants giving in addition antibacterical propriety.