A novel composite porous coating approach for bioactive titanium-based orthopedic implants

Surface modification of titanium-based implants is considered a highly effective solution to enhance osseointegration. This study describes a novel Ti/hydroxyapatite (HA) composite porous coating produced using a cold spraying technique. Experimental results indicate desirable open-cell structure with 50-150 mu m pore size and 60-65% macroporosity. In particular, the reinforced HA particles are exposed to the surface of the coating resulting in enhanced mineralization ability in simulated body fluid. None of the coatings displayed a cytotoxic response in SaOS-2 cells cultured in vitro for up to 48 h. The bond strength between the porous coating and the Ti substrate was found to be 20 MPa. These properties are comparative to or better than products currently on the market and thus this novel coating has potential use in orthopedics.