In vivo examination of the local inflammatory response after implantation of Ti6Al4V samples with a combined low-temperature plasma treatment using pulsed magnetron sputtering of copper and plasma-polymerized ethylenediamine

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2013 Mar;24(3):761-71. doi: 10.1007/s10856-012-4839-4. Epub 2013 Jan 12.

Abstract

Copper (Cu) could serve as antibacterial coating for Ti6Al4V implants. An additional cell-adhesive layer might compensate Cu cytotoxicity. This study aimed at in vitro and in vivo evaluation of low-temperature plasma treatment of Ti6Al4V plates with Ti/Cu magnetron sputtering (Ti6Al4V-Ti/Cu), plasma-polymerized ethylenediamine (Ti6Al4V-PPEDA), or both (Ti6Al4V-Ti/Cu-PPEDA). Ti6Al4V-Ti/Cu and Ti6Al4V-Ti/Cu-PPEDA had comparable in vitro Cu release and antibacterial effectiveness. Following intramuscular implantation of Ti6Al4V-Ti/Cu, Ti6Al4V-PPEDA, Ti6Al4V-Ti/Cu-PPEDA and Ti6Al4V controls for 7, 14 and 56 days with 8 rats/day, peri-implant tissue was immunohistochemically examined for different inflammatory cells. Ti6Al4V-PPEDA had more mast cells and NK cells than Ti6Al4V, and more tissue macrophages, T lymphocytes, mast cells and NK cells than Ti6Al4V-Ti/Cu-PPEDA. Ti6Al4V-Ti/Cu had more mast cells than Ti6Al4V and Ti6Al4V-Ti/Cu-PPEDA. Results indicate that PPEDA-mediated cell adhesion counteracted Cu cytotoxicity. Ti6Al4V-Ti/Cu-PPEDA differed from Ti6Al4V only for mast cells on day 56. Altogether, implants with both plasma treatments had antibacterial properties and did not increase inflammatory reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alloys
  • Animals
  • Biofilms
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Ethylenediamines / chemistry*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Inflammation / etiology*
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Plasma Gases*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Temperature
  • Titanium / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Alloys
  • Ethylenediamines
  • Plasma Gases
  • titanium alloy (TiAl6V4)
  • ethylenediamine
  • Copper
  • Titanium