ABSTRACT
In this chapter, NiTi alloy is treated with an acid and alkali solution and followed by a precalcification process. The ability to induce the formation of the bone-like apatite coating was examined by soaking the NiTi alloy in the simulated body fluid. Both the in vitro cell culture and the in vivo animal models indicate that the chemical treatment is an effective method to biofunctionalize NiTi alloy, and the apatite-coated NiTi alloy is promising used as hard tissue implant in the orthopedic field. To make the coating resemble natural bone more closely, apatite/collagen composite coating is self-assembled on the chemically treated NiTi alloy in the collagen containing simulated body fluids. The biofunctionalization of NiTi alloy by the chemical treatment improves its biocompatibility and promotes its osseointegration to host bone, which makes the coated NiTi alloy more applicable as the bone implant material.
