Electrolytic deposition of octacalcium phosphate/collagen composite coating on titanium alloy.

Osteointegration of titanium or its alloy with bone can be greatly improved by calcium phosphate coatings, and further enhanced by an extracellular matrix protein layer such as collagen. In this study, an octacalcium phosphate (OCP)/collagen composite coating layer on Ti6Al4V substrate was prepared using electrolytic deposition method. A layer of OCP mineral consisting of flake-like crystals was first formed on the Ti6Al4V substrate. Subsequently, mineralized collagen fibrils were deposited on the former OCP layer. These collagen fibrils were interconnected and well adhered on the OCP layer so that they were immobilized. The microstructure of the composite coating varied with collagen concentration in the electrolyte. This study could offer a possibility of fabricating a desired surface matrix on orthopedic implants to enhance bone formation and fixation of implants.