ABSTRACT
Implants require long-term stability and rapid healing; however, Ti-based implants that are currently on the market do not meet entirely the existent expectation of patients. Infection, lack of bioactivity, wear debris, and the biomechanical mismatch existent between the implant and the hosting bone are still the major problems in the prostheses field and can lead to aseptic loosening, fibrous encapsulation, and osteolysis. Macro-porosity in the Ti implant is presented as a beneficial way to reduce the biomechanical mismatch, in order to approach the value of Young’s modulus of the implant to the one found in the bone. Porous Ti is considered a promising biomaterial for several orthopedic applications, due to the capability of ingrowth of new bone tissue inside of the pores with the aim to achieve anchorage by enlarging the bone–implant interface area. However, the lack of bioactivity and wear resistance is yet to be improved. Surface modification by micro-arc oxidation allows bio-functionalization of the Ti surface with micro-porous oxide layers resulting in improved biological response and tribocorrosion behavior. In this way, the development of biomaterials with bio-functionalized macro-porous Ti structures is presented as a promising solution.
This chapter presents the main outcomes regarding those promising solutions based on their biocompatibility, mechanical properties, corrosion, and tribocorrosion resistance. Although the current development in the research area of bio-functionalized macro-porous Ti is promising, further efforts should be applied to the study of essential long-time investigations according to the clinic application.
