Bisphosphonate coating on titanium screws increases mechanical fixation in rat tibia after two weeks

Recently published data indicate that immobilized N-bisphosphonate enhances the pullout force and energy uptake of implanted stainless steel screws at 2 weeks in rat tibia. This study compares titanium screws with and without a bisphosphonate coating in the same animal model. The screws were first coated with an similar to 100 nm thick crosslinked fibrinogen film. Pamidronate was subsequently immobilized into this film via EDC/NHS-activated carboxyl groups within the fibrinogen matrix, and finally another N-bisphosphonate, ibandronate, was physically adsorbed. The release kinetics of immobilized C-14-alendronate was measured in buffer up to 724 h and showed a 60% release within 8 h. Mechanical tests demonstrated a 32% (p = 0.04) and 48% (p = 0.02) larger pullout force and energy until failure after 2 weeks of implantation, compared to uncoated titanium screws. A control study with physically adsorbed pamidronate showed no effect on mechanical fixation, probably due to a too small adsorbed amount. We conclude that the fixation of titanium implants in bone can be improved by fibrinogen matrix-bound bisphosphonates. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.