Efficiently reduced heat rise in TiO2 coating Ti-based metallic implants using anodic oxidation method

Microwave diathermy treatment has been successfully applied to such patients as for it can induce clinical hyperthermia to healing muscle skeletal injuries. However, as a contraindication, patients implanted with metallic implants for internal fixation of bone fracture could not take the microwave diathermy treatment. This is mainly due to microwave induced sudden temperature rise in metal implants, which will lead to heat damages in local tissues. The aim of this study is to improve the heat-resisting effect of titanium implants by modifying its surface. A uniform TiO2 coating has been designed and fabricated on the surface of Ti (TA3) substrate by the method of anodic oxidation to inhibit the excessive heat generation of metallic implants. In vitro microwave irradiation experiment, the temperature of Ti substrate increased 2.5 °C, TiO2 coated substrate increased only 1.4 °C, decreasing almost 50% under the same testing condition. The results indicate that the anodized TiO2 coating may be an effective method to reducing the temperature rise of the metal implants during microwave diathermy treatment, which will provide a potential rehabilitation solution to internal fixation of bone fracture.