An experimental bone defect healing with hydroxyapatite coating plasma sprayed on carbon/carbon composite implants

Hydroxyapatite coatings with proper thickness were coated on fusion-cage-like carbon fiber reinforced carbon composite implants for bone tissue reconstruction by the plasma spraying technique. Autogenously bone filled fusion-cage-like implants were grafted in hybrid goatsʹ tibia for 328 days. By means of X-ray photography, histological observation and scanning electron microscopy, the biological behaviors of the coating were compared with the pure carbon fiber reinforced carbon composites and the bone defect healing effect of the implants was evaluated. The results indicated that hydroxyapatite coating has more obvious osteoconductive effect than the pure carbon fiber reinforced carbon composites with surface bioinert. The calcium and phosphorus ions leached from HA provide a suitable biological mineralization environment that accelerates the metabolism of bone, the osteoblast differentiation and collagen synthesis. The coating can significantly speed up the bone defect healing process and improve the surface bioactivity of carbon fiber reinforced carbon composites.