In vivo evaluation of bone-bonding ability of RGD-coated porous implant using layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly.

RGD has been demonstrated to improve implant osseointegration. However, few studies are known about an effect of RGD coating on a bone-bonding ability of screw-shaped porous implant. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of RGD coating using the layer-by-layer self-assembly technique on the bone-bonding ability of porous implant. 60 implants of 10 mm in length (30 control and 30 RGD-coated) were inserted into femurs of 30 rabbits and 30 implants of 8 mm in length (15 control and 15 RGD-coated) were inserted into tibias of 15 rabbits. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-implantation, femurs and tibias were retrieved and prepared for removal torque tests (RTQ) and histomorphometric evaluation, respectively. No differences were found in the RTQ values between two implants at 4 weeks (p = 0.932). There were statistical significances in the RTQ values at 8 and 12 weeks (p = 0.002, 0.001, respectively). New bone was formed on both implant surfaces. The bone-implant contact pattern appeared to produce a broad-based direct contact in both implants. The RGD-coated implants showed a significantly greater BIC in the threads inside the cortical bone compared with the control implants at 4, 8, and 12 weeks (p = 0.024, 0.041, 0.022, respectively). No differences were found in the bone area within the same threads between two implants at 4 weeks (p = 0.806) whereas differences were found at 8 and 12 weeks (p = 0.009, 0.031, respectively). It was concluded that RGD coating using the layer-by-layer self-assembly technique has a positive effect on the bone-bonding ability of porous implant.