Interfacial Guided Osteogenesis in Implant Devices - IGOID
(FP-5, GROWTH, Advanced functional biomaterials, 5.2)

Despite of frequent clinical application of metallic ceramic material, studies of the combination of composites and/or growth factors with metals are scarcely reported.
Clinical application of CARBON PRODUCTS as functional carrier and/or implantabile devices for biological active molecules, growth factors and cytokines, is very important for orthopaedic, because their combination may accelerate initial bone healing and stimulates faster bone formation.
It was reported that pure titanium (Ti) sponges can serve as a carrier of BMP [Kawai,93].
This composite has interesting properties as an osteoinductive implant and has potential practical clinical applications [Ong, 97].
Titanium carbide (TiC), metal ceramic, is almost bioinert, but, its bone-reparing possibilities could be impaired by grafting with organic layer. The outstanding affinity of carbon for selective adsorption of peptides and proteins is a major advantage of all types of carbon products and ceramic, and in that sense could serves as an excellent carrier for growth factors. As a matter of fact, by selecting proteins to be adsorbed, TiC can have a direct influence on interfacial interaction, by means, that osteogenic cells could recognize the physico-chemical properties of adsorbed proteins on the substrate carrier with which they are associated. Given its porosity, the TiC ceramic is able to entrap growth factor within its micro-pores, and thus, the intrinsically diffusible protein retain and its action consequently prolonged. With unique microcrystalinity, TiC as suitable carrier, may significantly facilitate adhesion and entrapment of growth factors, and also with chemical bonds retained them, and prolong theirs activity, what all together, provide micro-envirounmental conditions for an excellent cell differentiation and vascularization around implants.
Aim of the project met the standards and interest of the European Commission for the financial support.