Bioactive material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bioactive material and to a method of producing a bioactive material which is suitable for use as an implant or for use as a bone substitute for repairing bone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A material suitable as an implant comprising a titanium or titanium alloy substrate comprising a first surface and a primary layer on the first surface,
 the primary layer comprising
 a plurality of micron scale structures, wherein the plurality of micron scale structures collectively comprise a second surface, and 
 a surface layer on the second surface, the surface layer comprising alkali titanates, wherein the thickness of the surface layer is between 100 and 500 nm, wherein the surface layer comprises a plurality of nanoscale structures, and wherein the plurality of nanoscale structures collectively comprise a third surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the alkali titanates comprise sodium titanate. 
     
     
         3 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the alkali titanates comprise discrete elements or fibrils comprising a width in the range of 2 to 20 nm and a length in the range of 200 nm to 300 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the surface layer is between 100 and 500 nm. 
     
     
         5 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the primary layer further comprises hydroxyapatite. 
     
     
         6 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the primary layer further comprises titanium oxide. 
     
     
         7 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface has a first surface area, the second surface has a second surface area, and the third surface has a third surface area, wherein the third surface area is greater than the second surface area, and wherein the second surface area is greater than the first surface area. 
     
     
         8 . The material of  claim 7 , wherein the third surface area is between 1000 and 50000 times greater than the first surface area. 
     
     
         9 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the third surface comprises a reflectance to visible light in the range of 1% to 20%. 
     
     
         10 . The material of  claim 9 , wherein the third surface comprises a reflectance to visible light in the range of 6% to 10%. 
     
     
         11 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the primary layer further comprises alumina in a concentration greater a concentration of alumina in the substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The material of  claim 11 , wherein the surface layer of the primary layer comprises alumina in a concentration lesser than a concentration of alumina in a subsurface of the primary layer. 
     
     
         13 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the primary layer is formed by a process comprising soaking at least a portion of the substrate in an alkaline solution comprising a concentration of 2 to 6 molar at a temperature of 50° C. to 70° C., for 1 to 24 hours. 
     
     
         14 . A material suitable as an implant comprising a titanium or titanium alloy substrate comprising a first surface and a primary layer on the first surface,
 the primary layer comprising
 a plurality of micron scale structures, wherein the plurality of micron scale structures collectively comprise a second surface; 
 a surface layer on the second surface, wherein the surface layer comprises alkali titanates, wherein the alkali titanates comprise a plurality of nanoscale structures, and wherein the plurality of nanoscale structures collectively comprise a third surface; and 
 alumina in a concentration greater than a concentration of alumina in the titanium or titanium alloy substrate. 
   
     
     
         15 . The material of  claim 14 , wherein the surface layer of the primary layer comprises alumina in a concentration lesser than a concentration of alumina in a subsurface of the primary layer. 
     
     
         16 . The material of  claim 14 , wherein the alkali titanates comprise discrete elements or fibrils comprising a width in the range of 2 to 20 nm and a length in the range of 200 nm to 300 nm. 
     
     
         17 . The material of  claim 14 , wherein the primary layer further comprises hydroxyapatite. 
     
     
         18 . The material of  claim 14 , wherein the primary layer further comprises titanium oxide. 
     
     
         19 . The material of  claim 14 , wherein the first surface has a first surface area, the second surface has a second surface area, and the third surface has a third surface area, wherein the third surface area is between 1000 and 50000 times greater than the first surface area. 
     
     
         20 . The material of  claim 14 , wherein the third surface comprises a reflectance to visible light in the range of 1% to 20%.