Glow Discharge Plasma Surface Modified HA/β-TCP Bone Substitute.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to used GDP treatment to modify HA/β-TCP particles surfaces and enhanced their properties for bone regeneration. The physical and chemical properties of HA/β-TCP particles after GDP surface treatment (HA/β-TCP + Ar-GDP) where tested, and its biological effects within MG-63 cells viability and differentiation into osteoblast like cells were measured and compared with the ones of HA/β-TCP.
Methods: The HA/β-TCP particles were treated with GDP treatment under argon gas at room temperature under the following conditions: power, 80 W; frequency, 13.56 MHz; pressure, 100 mTorr for 15 minutes, and later test the material.
Results: In the results, we could see Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations showed HA/β-TCP+Ar-GDP presented a rough surface within macro and micro porous similar to the HA/β-TCP characteristics. In the Energy Dispersive Spectrometer more elements were found in the HA/β-TCP surfaces than in the HA/β-TCP+Ar-GDP. The Ca/P ratio measured for HA/β-TCP particles was 1.74; while HA/β-TCP+Ar-GDP ratio was better with 2.05. The treated and non-treated bonegrafts substitute in the X-ray diffraction patterns test presented its highest intensity at 27 degrees with 600 a.u. HA/β-TCP+Ar-GDP and HA/β-TCP at 25 and 40 degrees demonstrated with peaks of 200 a.u. intensity similar degree and value to the human natural bone. The HA/β-TCP+Ar-GDP and HA/β-TCP in the cell vitality test demonstrated with the MG-63 cells a progression from attachment to spreading, enhancing cells viability, with HA/β-TCP+Ar-GDP demonstrating a better differentiation into osteoblast like cells than HA/β-TCP group in the Alkaline Phosphatase test.
Conclusions: With the limitations of the present study results evidence GDP surface treatment only modified HA/β-TCP surface, consequently helping to enhance this graft material for better bone regeneration.