Development of new elastic titanium immediate load implants

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): optimize their performance for oral and maxillofacial applications. Recent research has identified a new class of titanium materials with far better mechanical strength and elasticity than the current commercial titanium systems. The purpose of this research is to develop strong and highly elastic implantable materials for immediate load applications. The research will address two significant issues for the new titanium alloys, namely, to maximize elasticity with mechanical strength, and achieve high-rate osseointegration with long-term biocompatibility. Phase I has two Specific Aims: 1) identify a novel approach to create porosity and high Ti-content at the surface, and 2) demonstrate desirable surface morphology and biocompatibility for better osseointegration. Two specific surface treatments designed through nanotechnology principles will be demonstrated for establishing their key benefits as future immediate load systems. The best alloy/surface system with the highest elasticity of the new titanium alloys will be used to develop clinically innovative materials in the Phase II research. Phase II will pursue an integrated development of new implantable alloys from material synthesis, implant device designs, surface treatment to in-vivo implant loading evaluation. These new Ti alloys will have the potential to improve current titanium alloy systems for Dental and maxillofacial prostheses because it matches the elasticity of bone better. Greater applications will be in developing smaller and thinner implant components and prostheses that can withstand heavy masticatory functions. Commercial applications are expected to broaden Dental implant to the next level of general population with poor bone structures, and eventually extend to large-size joint and bone segments if reliable and high performance titanium biomaterials are demonstrated.