Metal substrate with antibacterial and osteointegrative properties for implantology applications
Inventors
Chiesa, Roberto • Rimondini, Lia • Siccardi, Francesco • DE LOLLIS, Angelo • Parravicini, Matteo
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12605487-B2
Publication Date
2026-04-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a substrate of a metal, preferably titanium or a titanium alloy, having at least one surface coated with an oxide layer of the metal itself, said surface being modified and enriched with Ca, P, Ga, Sr, and, optionally, Ag by anodic spark deposition (ASD). The present invention also relates to a process for producing said substrate by applying the anodic spark deposition (ASD) technique to a substrate, optionally pre-treated, immersed in an electrolytic solution comprising Ca, P, Ga, Sr and, optionally, Ag. Finally, the present invention also relates to a prosthesis and a surgical implant comprising or preferably produced with said substrate, as well as the use thereof for the prevention of bacterial colonisation and promotion of osteointegration in implantology operations, preferably orthopaedic prosthetic implantology.
Core Innovation
The described invention is a prosthesis or surgical implant with a metal substrate whose surface carries an oxide layer of the metal itself. The layer is hydrophilic and is modified in morphology and chemistry through anodic spark deposition, with enrichment by calcium, phosphorus, gallium, and strontium ions. The claim states that this layer provides combined antibacterial and osteointegrative actions superior to layers enriched with the stated partial ion combinations.
The partial content reports that gallium-containing coatings reduce bacterial viability, while strontium-containing samples show increased osteoblast proliferation; it also describes a balance of antibacterial activity and osteoblast compatibility for strontium-gallium coatings. The background section is not included in the supplied content, so the problem it identifies is not explicitly described.
Claims Coverage
The claim coverage includes four inventive features directed to a prosthesis or surgical implant.
Metal substrate with an oxide layer
A prosthesis or surgical implant comprises a substrate of a metal having at least one surface coated with an oxide layer of the metal itself.
Ion enrichment by anodic spark deposition
The coated surface is modified and enriched with Ca, P, Ga, and Sr ions by morphological and chemical modification of the oxide layer with an anodic spark deposition technique.
Hydrophilic oxide layer
The oxide layer is hydrophilic.
Combined antibacterial and osteointegrative actions
The oxide layer exhibits a combination of antibacterial and osteointegrative actions superior to an oxide layer enriched with Ca, P, and Ga or Ca, P, and Sr.
The independent claim covers a metal-substrate prosthesis or surgical implant with a hydrophilic oxide surface enriched with Ca, P, Ga, and Sr ions by anodic spark deposition, providing combined antibacterial and osteointegrative actions superior to specified partial-ion alternatives.
Stated Advantages
The claim states that the combined antibacterial and osteointegrative actions are superior to those of oxide layers enriched with Ca, P, and Ga or Ca, P, and Sr.
The described results report reduced bacterial viability with gallium-containing coatings against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus.
The described results report increased osteoblast proliferation with strontium-containing samples and a balance of antibacterial activity and osteoblast compatibility for strontium-gallium coatings.
Documented Applications
Use in prostheses and surgical implants, particularly orthopaedic implants, to reduce bacterial colonisation and promote osteointegration.
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