ULTRA HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE ACETABULAR CUPS FUNCTIONALIZED WITH BIOACTIVE GLASS COATINGS SYNTHESIZED BY PULSED LASER DEPOSITION

摘要

We report on the synthesis by PLD of bioactive glass (BG) films onto ultra high molecular weight polyethylene acetabular cups, and their preliminarily characterization after immersion in simulated body fluid. Fourier Transform Infrared spectra evidenced the strong depolymerization of the BG coatings. Scanning Electron Microscopy evidenced that the typical PLD film surface was converted after soaking in SBF to a rough one consisting of acicular crystals. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy analysis demonstrated a remarkable conservation of the targets stoichiometry. The functionalization of acetabular cups with BG films by PLD should allow for the fabrication of implant coatings with improved osteoinductive characteristics.