Enhancement of bone to polylactic acid plate bonding by carbonate apatite coating

Polylactic acid (PLA) has no osteoconductivity, causing the early failure of PLA implants. For obviating this problem, coating, rather than incorporation, with calcium phosphate is considered to be effective. In study, plates were coated granular carbonate apatite (CAp), inorganic component bone, using thermal fusion bonding method. The water contact angles CAp-coated (CAp/PLA) and 0.7° ± 0.1° 90.3° 3.9°, respectively. Thus, CAp coating significantly improved wettability surface. Furthermore, roughness (Ra) CAp/PLA was 11.7 2.2 μm 1.8 0.2 μm, involved two types micropores (~30–80 ~2 μm). provided a rough surface plate. uncoated fixed onto rabbit tibial evaluate their bone formation adhesion abilities. Four weeks after implantation, new formed on plates. contrast, tissue present in most regions between plate tibia. tensile bond strengths tibia 4.0 2.5 0 N, promoted increased ability at an stage. effective strategy for achieving rapid robust fixation.