Purpose: The aim of this study was to promote the immobilization of a bone activity biomodulator (diphosphonate) on titanium, commonly used in implant dentistry, to provide a local method of delivering this drug during the osseointegration process.
Methods: The implant material used in this study was commercially wrought titanium (Ticp), 99.9 mass%, grade II. From this material, discs of 15 mm diameter and 1 mm thick were fabricated. These discs underwent 3 sequential surface modification processes: (a) acid-etching, (b) hydroxyapatite coating, and (c) immersion in disodium pamidronate solution. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction analyses were carried out to characterize the surface created.
Results: The results of these analyses demonstrate that the acid-etching process, followed by the sintering of hydroxyapatite particles and immersion in a solution of disodium pamidronate were effective for diphosphonate immobilization on the titanium surface.
Conclusions: The methodology used in this study allows us to conclude that immersion of hydroxyapatite-coated titanium in a solution of diphosphonate was efficient to promote the immobilization of this drug on the titanium surface.