New research: Strontium titanate coating may enhance the osseointegration ability of implants

图源：One-step hydrothermal fabrication of a strontium titanate coating on titanium enhances osseointegration of dental implants

Good Dental News |Recently, the Department of Stomatology team at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University published a paper in the materials science journal *Materials Today Communications*, employing...One-step hydrothermal technologySuccessfully prepared on the surface of pure titaniumStrontium titanate (SrTiO₃) coatingThis provides a new approach to implant surface modification.

This study adoptedStrontium hydroxideAs a source of strontium,Sodium hydroxideAs a mineralizing agent, a strontium titanate crystal coating was directly formed on the surface of pure titanium by hydrothermal treatment at 80 °C. Surface characterization results showed that the coating consisted of polygonal crystals with a diameter of approximately 1 μm, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed it to be the strontium titanate phase (SrTiO₃).

In in vitro experiments, mouse MC3T3-E1osteogenic progenitor cellsAdhesion, proliferation and... on the surface of strontium titanate coating (Ti–Sr group)Osteogenesis-related genesThe expression levels of these genes were higher than those in the pure titanium group and the alkali-treated titanium group (Ti-OH group). Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) results showed that the expression levels of osteogenic marker genes such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN), and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) were upregulated.

图源：One-step hydrothermal fabrication of a strontium titanate coating on titanium enhances osseointegration of dental implants

In a rat distal femoral implantation experiment, 8 weeks after implantation, the strontium titanate-coated group showed higher bone mineral density, bone volume fraction, and trabecular bone thickness around the implant compared to the control group. Histological analysis revealed increased peri-implant bone formation and collagen deposition; immunofluorescence staining indicated the presence of M2 macrophage markers.CD163Expression increases, while M1 type markersiNOSDecreased expression suggests that the local immune microenvironment is being regulated in a direction favorable to bone formation.

图源：One-step hydrothermal fabrication of a strontium titanate coating on titanium enhances osseointegration of dental implants

Nanoscale scratch testing shows that the strontium titanate coating...The critical load Lc₂ is 7.56 ± 0.54 N.The coating strength was higher than that of the pure titanium group and the alkali-treated group, indicating a stronger bond between the coating and the substrate. Contact angle testing showed that the coating surface...The water contact angle is approximately 40.6°.It exhibits good hydrophilicity.

Researchers pointed out thatSustained release of strontium ionsIt is one of the key factors in promoting osseointegration. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) immersion experiments showed that the coating released a high concentration of strontium ions in the early stage, followed by a slow and stable release trend, and strontium ion release could still be detected at 28 days.

图源：One-step hydrothermal fabrication of a strontium titanate coating on titanium enhances osseointegration of dental implants

Furthermore, researchers stated that the technology still requires further validation regarding its molecular mechanisms, long-term in vivo effects, and clinical applicability. Additionally, testing in large animal models and disease models such as osteoporosis has not yet been conducted, and the long-term degradation behavior of the SrTiO₃ coating and related biological responses also need further investigation.

*Scan the QR code at the end of the article to add our assistant and get access to [the article/document/etc.].A one-step hydrothermal method for preparing strontium titanate coatings on titanium to enhance osseointegration in dental implantsOriginal document.