Evaluation of Calcium Phosphate Coating Films on Titanium Fabricated Using RF Magnetron Sputtering

Abstract

Calcium phosphate coating films fabricated on commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) substrates using radiofrequency (RF) magnetron sputtering were evaluated in vivo and in vitro for investigating their applications in dental and medical implants. For the in vitro evaluations of the calcium phosphate coating films, the bonding strength and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were examined. The bonding strength of the coating films to a polished titanium plate exceeded 60 MPa. When compared with an uncoated titanium plate, the increase in the ALP activity of SaOS-2 cells (a well-characterized osteosarcoma human cell line exhibiting osteoblast-like properties) on a titanium plate coated with a calcium phosphate film was confirmed by a culture test. Titanium cylinders coated with an amorphous calcium phosphate film were implanted into the mandibles of beagle dogs. The percentage of bone-implant contact in coated titanium was greater than that in uncoated titanium.