Pufa covered implants

Abstract

A medical or dental implant which contains a metal material selected from the group consisting of titanium or an alloy thereof, wherein at least part of the surface of the metal material is coated with a layer of a polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). In a preferred embodiment, the implant has been exposed to UV radiation for at least 30 seconds before, simultaneously with and/or after the coating with PUFA. Depending on the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the surface, at least parts of the implant exhibits improved effect on adhesion of mineralized and/or hard tissue, such as on bone remodeling and/or improved biocompatibility, or alternatively inhibits adhesion of mineralized and/or hard tissue to the implant. The metal material is preferably titanium, the polyunsaturated fatty acid is preferably EPA.

1 . A metal implant for controlled adhesion of mineralized and/or hard tissue, wherein at least part of the surface of the implant is coated with PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) at a concentration of up to 10 nanogram/mm 2 . 
     
     
         2 . A metal implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the implant is coated with PUFA at a concentration of up to 1 nanogram/mm 2 . 
     
     
         3 . A metal implant for controlled adhesion of mineralized and/or hard tissue, wherein at least part of the surface of the implant is coated with PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) at a concentration of at least 1 μg/mm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . A metal implant according to  claim 1 , further characterized in that at least the part of the implant coated with PUFA has been exposed to UV radiation for at least 30 seconds. 
     
     
         5 . A metal implant according to  claim 4 , wherein the implant has been exposed to UV radiation for at least 10 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . A metal implant according to  claim 4 , wherein the implant has been exposed to UV radiation for at least 30 minutes. 
     
     
         7 . A metal implant according to  claim 4 , wherein the implant has been exposed to UV radiation before the implant is coated with PUFA. 
     
     
         8 . A metal implant according to  claim 4 , wherein the implant is exposed to UV radiation after the implant is coated with PUFA. 
     
     
         9 . A metal implant according to  claim 4 , wherein the implant is exposed to UV radiation simultaneously to being coated with PUFA. 
     
     
         10 . A metal implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises titanium. 
     
     
         11 . A metal implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the implant comprises at least 90% by weight of titanium. 
     
     
         12 . A metal implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the PUFA is selected from the group consisting of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids. 
     
     
         13 . A metal implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the PUFA comprises EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). 
     
     
         14 . A metal implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the PUFA consists of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). 
     
     
         15 . A metal implant according to  claim 1 , wherein the implant coating additionally comprises fat-soluble vitamins. 
     
     
         16 . A metal implant according to  claim 15 , wherein the fat-soluble vitamin is vitamin E. 
     
     
         17 . A metal implant according to  claim 1  wherein the implant additionally comprises 7-dehydrocholesterol. 
     
     
         18 . A metal implant produced by coating a metal implant with 7-dehydrocholesterol and subsequently irradiating said coated implant with UV light whereby cholecalciferol (vitamin D 3 ) is formed. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of actively inhibiting adhesion of mineralized and/or hard tissue to a metal implant comprising providing an implant wherein at least part of the surface of the implant is coated with PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) at a concentration of up to 10 nanogram/mm 2 . 
     
     
         21 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant comprising
 a) treating the implant with a solution comprising PUFA; and   b) irradiating at least part of the surface of the implant with UV light for at least 30 seconds.   
     
     
         22 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant comprising
 a) irradiating at least part of the surface of the implant with UV light for at least 30 seconds; and   b) treating the implant with a solution comprising PUFA.   
     
     
         23 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant, comprising
 a) mirror polishing and/or grit-blasting the implant,   b) washing,   c) autoclaving,   d) treating the implant with a solution comprising PUFA; and   e) irradiating at least part of the surface of the implant with UV light for at least 30 seconds.   
     
     
         24 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant, comprising
 a) mirror polishing and/or grit-blasting the implant,   b) washing,   c) autoclaving,   d) irradiating at least part of the surface of the implant with UV light for at least 30 seconds; and   e) treating the implant with a solution comprising PUFA.   
     
     
         25 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant according to  claim 21 , wherein the solution comprising PUFA comprises EPA. 
     
     
         26 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant according to  claim 21 , wherein the implant comprises titanium. 
     
     
         27 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant according to  claim 21 , wherein the surface is irradiated with UV light characterized by Fluo.link, λ.= 312  nm. 
     
     
         28 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant according to  claim 21 , wherein intensity of the UV light which the surface is irradiated with is approximately 6 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
         29 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant according to  claim 22 , wherein the solution comprising PUFA comprises EPA. 
     
     
         30 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant according to  claim 22 , wherein the implant comprises titanium. 
     
     
         31 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant according to  claim 22 , wherein the surface is irradiated with UV light characterized by Fluo.link, λ.=312 nm. 
     
     
         32 . Method for manufacturing a metal implant according to  claim 22 , wherein intensity of the UV light which the surface is irradiated with is approximately 6 mW/cm 2 .