Evaluating the osseointegration of nanostructured titanium implants in animal models: Current experimental methods and perspectives (Review)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to review the experimental methods currently being used to evaluate the osseointegration of nanostructured titanium implants using animal models. The material modifications are linked to the biocompatibility of various types of oral implants, such as laser-treated, acid-etched, plasma-coated, and sand-blasted surface modifications. The types of implants are reviewed according to their implantation site (endoosseous, subperiosteal, and transosseous implants). The animal species and target bones used in experimental implantology are carefully compared in terms of the ratio of compact to spongy bone. The surgical technique in animal experiments is briefly described, and all phases of the histological evaluation of osseointegration are described in detail, including harvesting tissue samples, processing undemineralized ground sections, and qualitative and quantitative histological assessment of the bone-implant interface. The results of histological staining methods used in implantology are illustrated and compared. A standardized and reproducible technique for stereological quantification of bone-implant contact is proposed and demonstrated. In conclusion, histological evaluation of the experimental osseointegration of dental implants requires careful selection of the experimental animals, bones, and implantation sites. It is also advisable to use larger animal models and older animals with a slower growth rate rather than small or growing experimental animals. Bones with a similar ratio of compact to spongy bone, such as the human maxilla and mandible, are preferred. A number of practical recommendations for the experimental procedures, harvesting of samples, tissue processing, and quantitative histological evaluations are provided.

In Vitro Biological Characterization of Silver-Doped Anodic Oxide Coating on Titanium

“…Hulbert S. et al demonstrated that osteons require mini pores in which the diameters range from 150 to 200 µm [ 46 ]. Later, Babuska V. found that lamellar bone and bone remodeling were highly favored by 200-µm pores created by a laser compared to 10–25-µm pores [ 47 ]. However, Stangl R et al conducted histological analysis and determined that the optimal implant surface showed wavy structures with an average wavelength of 11.6 µm and with deviations in height of 1.4 µm [ 48 ].…”

Antimicrobial and Osseointegration Properties of Nanostructured Titanium Orthopaedic Implants

“…Another strategy is to improve the osteoinductive properties of Ti implants to activate the TGF-β/BMP and non-canonicalWNT/Ca 2+ (WNT5A, FZD6) pathways directly by modified surface structures as shown by Chakravorty et al [ 135 ]. Especially in vitro results require highly standardized animal models to receive reliable data [ 136 ].…”

Proliferation of Osteoblasts on Laser-Modified Nanostructured Titanium Surfaces

“…In concordance with our results [ 16 ], Thirugnanam et al [ 17 ] found significantly higher adhesion of osteoblasts and increased bone formation on nanostructured titanium surfaces when compared to conventional titanium. Since that time, many in vitro as well as in vivo studies have investigated the impact of nanostructured surfaces on the behavior of the surrounding cells [ 18 , 19 ]. Zhou et al [ 20 ] suggested one possible explanation, based on changes in the chemical composition of titanium surface immersed in a simulated body fluid (SBF) with an addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA).…”