Osteoconductivity Control Based on the Chemical Properties of the Implant Surface

Metallic materials, such as Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, and their alloys, and also stainless steels are widely attractive as osteoconductive materials in the dental and orthopedic fields. Ceramics and polymers are also commonly used as biomaterials. However, they do not have high osteoconductivity in their pure form, and surface coatings with bioactive substances, such as hydroxyapatite or TiO2, are needed before implantation into the bone. Many reports claim that the surface chemical properties of implants, in particular, hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, strongly affect the biological reactions. However, the effect of surface properties on osteoconductivity is not clear. In this review, we focus on the relationship between the surface hydrophilicity of metallic implants and osteoconductivity using in vivo evaluation, and the control of the osteoconductivity is discussed from the viewpoint of protein adsorption in implants.