ALBERT

Notes: The shear bond strength between a ceramic material (Titankeramik®, Vita Zahnfabrik,Germany) and two biocompatible titanium alloys was investigated. Ti-13%Nb-13%Zr (TNZ) andTi-35%Nb-7%Zr-5%Ta (TNZT) alloys were obtained based on the blended elemental techniquefollowed by a sequence of cold uniaxial and isostatic pressing and sintering. Characterizationinvolved microstructural analysis (SEM) and crystalline phase identification (XRD).Subsequently, samples were machined to 4 x 4 mm with a base of 5 x 1 mm. The base metalswere blasted with Al2O3 particles followed by the application of a coupling agent and opaqueceramic. After ceramic firing, the specimens were loaded in a universal testing machine(0,5mm/min). XRD revealed the presence of α and β-phases for TNZ, and peaks related to βphases and Nb and Ta for the TNZT alloy. SEM evaluation (TNZ) depicted remaining pores andbiphasic microstructure formation. SEM micrographs of the TNZT alloy revealed gooddensification and a homogeneous β structure. Shear bond strength data (MPa) were statisticallyanalyzed (one-way ANOVA and Tukey test, α=.05) revealing that TNZT (37.6 ± 2.91) presentedsignificant higher values (p=0.0002) compared to TNZ (26.03 ± 2.92). In conclusion, it seemsthat Ti alloy composition plays a significant role on ceramic bonding

Notes: The objective of this series of experiments was to evaluate the effect of bioceramiccoatings/ incorporations on implant surfaces as a function of implant and surgical drilling design.Methods: A series of four in vivo studies were conducted utilizing the dog proximal tibia model.The models provided implants that remained from 2 to 5 weeks implantation time. The differentstudies comprised the placement of implants with intimate contact with bone following placementand implant designs that resulted in healing chambers. The various implant types presented surfaceswith and without Ca- and P-based bioceramic incorporations. Biomechanical andhistomorphometric measurements along with qualitative bone-implant interface morphologyevaluation were performed. For all studies, one-way ANOVA at 95% level of significance wasemployed along with Tukey's post-hoc multiple comparisons. Results: Close contact betweencortical and trabecular bone and all the different implant surfaces irrespective of implant fit (withand without healing chambers) showed that all surfaces were biocompatible and osteoconductive. Ingeneral, appositional bone healing was observed at all implant regions that were in intimate contactwith bone immediately after placement, and an intramembranous-like healing occurred throughoutthe whole volume of the healing chambers. Irrespective of implant + surgical drilling design, thepresence of Ca and P resulted in a bone morphology that showed primary osteonic structures atearlier times than uncoated surfaces. Conclusion: Irrespective of implant design and surgicaldrilling combination, the presence of Ca and P on the implant surface positively modulated earlyhealing around endosseous implants

Notes: The objective of this study was to physico/chemically characterize a commercially available and a newly developed Bioglass and also to evaluate their degradation properties. Materials and Method: Two bioresorbable glasses were utilized, a bioglass synthesized at Chemical Engineering College (University of São Paulo, Lorena, São Paulo) (BG1), and the other bioglass utilized was Biogran (BG2) (3i Implant Innovations, Brazil). Particles size distribution histograms were developed for both materials, and then they were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) before and after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 30, 60, and 90 days. Results: The particle size distribution showed that the mean particle diameters at 10%, 50%, and 90% of the total volume were 17.65, 66.18, and 114.71 µm for BG1, and 354.54, 437.5, 525.00 µm for BG2. SEM images of BG1 showed that the as-received material had a rough surface and as the time of degradation elapsed, this surface became smooth. The images of BG2 showed that the as-received material also had a rough surface, and after immersion in SBF, the material’s crystalline content/morphology could be observed. The X-ray diffraction recorded that BG1 showed a silica peak, not seen at BG2. FTIR revealed that both bioglasses were of similar composition, except for the CO3-carbonate minor peak, present at the BG2 sample. Conclusions: 1. The particle size distribution showed a polydispersed pattern for both materials. 2. The material suffered degradation, and the decomposition increased as a function of immersion in SBF. 3. Both bioglasses had similar composition

Notes: Objective: This series of laboratorial and in-vivo studies describe the characterization,evolution, and in-vivo performance of various Ca- and P-based nanothicknesses and microstructuresion beam assisted depositions (IBAD) onto Ti-6Al-4V implants. Materials and Methods:Characterization- The 4 mm in diameter and 10 mm in length implant rods (Ti-6Al-4V) with IBADI, IBAD II, and control (alumina-blasted/acid-etched, AB/AE) surfaces were provided by animplant manufacturer. The in-vitro characterization comprised the following techniques: (1)SEM/EDS, (2) XPS/Depth Profiling (3) Thin-film XRD (4) AFM + ToF-SIMS for coatingthickness determination (5) AFM- Ra determination. In-vivo- Three animal experiments werecarried out for evaluation of the nanothickness bioceramic coatings. All experiments comprised aproximal tibia model with 4-6 implants placed along the bones. Times in-vivo ranged from 2-5weeks. Static (bioactivity, bone to implant contact) and dynamic (mineral apposition rates- MAR)histomorphometric measurements were recorded. Biomechanical testing was performed by pulloutand torque to interfacial failure testing. Results: Combination of the characterization techniquesshowed that all bioceramic coatings were Ca- and P-based bioceramics of amorphousmicrostructure. AFM +ToF-SIMS showed that IBAD II coatings were thicker (300-500 nm)compared to IBAD I coatings (30-50 nm). Surface roughness did not change significantly for theIBAD implant groups compared to control. The in-vivo results showed higher degrees ofosseoactivity, torque to failure, and MAR for the coated implants at different times in-vivo. IBAD IIhad higher biomechanical fixation at early implantation times compared to other groups.Conclusions: The results obtained in the in-vitro part this study support that both IBAD I and IBADII coatings are Ca- and P- based amorphous bioceramics in the nanothickness range with theoreticalhigh dissolution rates. The increased osseoactivity observed for IBAD coated and the high MARvalues observed for IBAD coated compared to AB/AE implants support the effect of the bioceramiccoating presence in the overall bone healing. A thickness effect was reveled through biomechanicaltesting where IBAD II (300-500nm thickness) presented higher performance

Notes: Incorporation of bioceramics on the surface of dental implants has been utilized in an attempt to increase biological response of bone to materials. This paper reports the in vitro biological evaluation of Ca/P-based nanothickness bioceramic coated alumina-blasted/acid-etched titanium implants (AB/AE nanotite implant) and compare its performance to the untreated and uncoated implants, Ca/P-based nanothickness bioceramic coated untreated implants (untreated nanotite implant), alumina-blasted/acid-etched titanium implants (AB/AE implant) and hydroxyapatite plasma-sprayed implants (PSHA Implant). Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts were used to asses the cytocompatibility of implant materials according to ISO-10993-5 protocols. Osteoblasts from Balb/c femurs seeded onto different implant surfaces showed the effect of surface topography and chemistry on cell adhesion. The results showed that all implants were not cytotoxic and that PSHA and AB/AE nanotite implants favored osteoblasts adhesion

Notes: Among surface modifications commercially available for dental implants, the incorporation of bioceramic coatings is one of the most popular. However, concerns regarding the effectiveness of the bond between the metallic surface and the coating have led to the development of thin-film Ca- and P- based bioceramic coatings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early bone response to a thin ion bean deposited (Test) bioceramic implant surface compared to an alumina-blasted/acid-etched (Control) surface in a canine model. Results showed that although no difference in bone-to-implant (BIC) could be noted between the two different surfaces, more organized bone architecture was present around the Test implants in 4 weeks. Based on this observation, the incorporation of a thin- film bioceramic coating positively influenced bone healing around dental implants at early times