System And Method For Attaching Soft Tissue To An Implant

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention is directed to compositions and methods for enhancing attachment of soft tissues to a metal prosthetic device. In one embodiment a construct is provided comprising a metal implant having a porous metal region, wherein said porous region exhibits a nano-textured surface.

1 . A metallic implant device comprising
 a metal surface displaying nanosurface roughness produced from anodization of the metal surface, wherein said roughened metal surface comprises a plurality of surface structures having an average height of from about 20 nm to about 200 nm.   
     
     
         2 . The metallic implant of  claim 1  wherein said surface structures have an average height of from about 40 nm to about 100 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The metallic implant of  claim 1  wherein said surface structures have an average height of less than 100 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The metallic implant of  claim 1  wherein the metal is titanium or a titanium alloy. 
     
     
         5 . The metallic implant of  claim 1  wherein said surface structures are distributed uniformly on the textured surface. 
     
     
         6 . The metallic implant of  claim 1  wherein the distance between said surface structures can range anywhere from 25 nm to about 500 nm. 
     
     
         7 . The metallic implant of  claim 1  wherein the metallic device comprises a porous region, wherein the porous region surface displays nanosurface roughness. 
     
     
         8 . The metallic implant of  claim 7  wherein said metallic device comprises a reticulated metallic porous material with interconnected pores. 
     
     
         9 . The metallic implant of  claim 7  further comprising a bioactive agent. 
     
     
         10 . The metallic implant of  claim 9  wherein the bioactive agent is a therapeutic drug selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antimicrobials, steroidal and non-steroidal analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, immune-suppressants and anti-cancer drugs. 
     
     
         11 . The metallic implant of  claim 9  wherein the bioactive agent is a growth factor. 
     
     
         12 . A method of preparing a metallic implant device that displays nanosurface roughness, said method comprising
 pretreating a metallic component of said implant with an acid; and   anodizing said pretreated metallic component at low voltage for at least 1 minute.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the pretreated metallic component is anodized at low voltage for 1 to 5 minutes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein
 said metallic component comprises a surface containing titanium or a titanium alloy;   said pretreating step comprises immersing the metallic implant and a cathode in an acidic electrolyte solution comprising hydrofluoric acid; and   said anodizing step comprises applying an electrical potential between the metallic implant and the cathode.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the electrical potential is about 20 volts that is maintained for 1, 3 or 5 minutes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the acidic electrolyte solution comprises 1% hydrofluoric acid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the acidic electrolyte solution comprises 1% hydrofluoric acid and 2% HNO 3 . 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the metallic component is titanium or a titanium alloy.