Osseointegration Assessment of Multi‐Material Ti6Al4V‐β TCP Implants: An Experimental Study in Rats

Abstract In the present study, mono‐ and multi‐material laser textured Ti6Al4V implants are manufactured and characterized in vivo to explore their applicability in orthopedic implants. Laser surface texturing is used for manufacturing grooved Ti6Al4V implants while a pressure‐assisted sintering technique is employed to impregnate beta‐tricalcium phosphate into grooves for an improved bioactivity. After implantation into Sprague Dawley rat's femur for 4 and 12 weeks, bone‐implant fixation and osseointegration are assessed, by performing push‐out tests and histological characterization. Histological characterization showed bone formation around all implants, characterized by immature bone at 4 weeks of implantation and a more mature bone after 12 weeks. The maximum push‐out forces are higher for the textured and multi‐material solution, when compared to non‐textured implants right after 4 weeks of implantation ( p < 0.05). After 12 weeks, multi‐material implant displayed higher fracture energy when compared to non‐textured implants ( p < 0.05). Results revealed that laser surface texturing and bioactive multi‐material solutions are highly effective to promote bone regeneration and enhance bone‐implant fixation for further application in orthopedic implants.