Deposition of discrete nanoparticles on an implant surface

Abstract

A method of forming a nanocrystalline surface on an implant is disclosed. The method comprises the act of roughening at least a portion of the implant surface to form a roughened surface. The method further comprises the act of, without forming an alkoxide on the roughened surface, depositing nanocrystals on the roughened surface. The nanocrystals comprise a material having a property that promotes osseointegration.

1 . A method of forming a nanocrystalline surface on an implant, the method comprising the acts of:
 roughening at least a portion of the implant surface to form a roughened surface;   without forming an alkoxide on the roughened surface, depositing nanocrystals on the roughened surface, the nanocrystals comprising a material having a property that promotes osseointegration.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is made of a metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, cobalt, chromium, titanium, stainless steel, or alloys thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal comprises titanium. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is made of a material including ceramic. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant is a dental implant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the portion of the implant surface is a threaded bottom portion for facilitating bonding with bone. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of roughening the implant surface comprises:
 removing a native oxide layer from the implant surface; and   acid etching the resulting surface.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of roughening the implant surface creates irregularities, the irregularities having peak-to-valley heights not greater than about 20 microns. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanocrystals include hydroxyapatite, the nanocrystals being on the order of about 20 nanometers to about 100 nanometers. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the act of depositing the hydroxyapatite nanocrystals further includes using a solution of 2-methoxyethanol solvent and the hydroxyapatite nanocrystals. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the act of depositing the hydroxyapatite nanocrystals further comprises adjusting the pH of the solution. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the adjusting the pH of the solution includes using ammonium hydroxide. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pH is adjusted to between about 9 and about 11. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the act of rinsing the implant in reverse osmosis/deionized water. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising thermally curing the implant to sinter the deposited hydroxyapatite nanocrystals. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the acts of:
 rinsing the implant in deionized water; and 
 drying the implant. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein prior to depositing the hydroxyapatite nanocrystals, the method comprises rinsing the implant in deionized water. 
     
     
         18 . A dental implant comprising:
 a head portion having a non-rotational feature;   a lowermost end opposing the head portion, and   a threaded bottom portion for engaging bone between the head portion and the lowermost end, the threaded bottom portion having a roughened surface with a substantially uniform array of microscale irregularities having peak-to-valley heights not greater than about 20 microns, the threaded bottom portion further including discrete nanoparticles located on the roughened surface, the nanoparticles including hydroxyapatite nanocrystals.   
     
     
         19 . The implant of  claim 18 , wherein the implant is made of a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium and titanium alloys. 
     
     
         20 . The implant of  claim 18 , wherein the implant is made of a material including ceramic. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled)