Implanting a prosthesis in a bone site triggers a cascade of tissue/implant reactions that ultimately leads in fineto the “osseointegration” of the implant. To promote the “biointegration” of implants into bone tissue, several studies have demonstrated the benefits of coating the implant with coatings such as hydroxyapatite or polymers containing ionic functions similar to those of natural molecules. Titanium and titanium alloys are widely used in orthopaedic and dental implants because of their corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. The physicochemical characteristics of the surface influence protein adsorption and therefore cell adhesion and proliferation. To improve osseointegration, several approaches have been investigated: physically modifying the surface by applying an inorganic hydroxyapatite-type layer and functionalizing the surface with polymers bearing sulfonate or carboxylate ionic groups. Perfect control over the purity of raw materials is essential for grafting polymers or depositing HAP powders onto implant surfaces. FILAB has high-level expertise and analytical resources that have enabled it to develop and implement tools and methods suited to surface characterization, chemical analysis, and the characterization of crystallinity and phase purity in hydroxyapatite powders according to the NF ISO 13779-3 standard, as well as the verification of polymer purity using appropriate characterization tools: SEM-EDX, NMR, ICP, and XRD.
