Enhanced bonding layers on native oxide surfaces

1. An implantable device comprising a metal, metal alloy, metalloid, polymeric or ceramic surface with an oxide overlayer, and a phosphonic acid coating layer covalently bonded to the oxide overlayer, wherein said coating layer is formed by coating said oxide overlayer with a self-assembled layer of organophosphonic acid molecules comprising organic ligands containing from about 2 to 20 carbon atoms and heating said coated oxide overlayer so that the organophosphonic acid groups react with said oxide overlayer and bond said self-assembled layer thereto, and the phosphonic acid organic ligands are functionalized at the omega carbons.

2. The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the oxide overlayer is a native oxide overlayer.

3. The implantable device of claim 2 , wherein the phosphonic acid coating layer is formed by coating the oxide overlayer with a phosphonic acid having the formula H 2 RPO 3 wherein R is an omega functionalized hydrocarbon ligand.

4. The implantable device of claim 2 , wherein the device surface comprises titanium metal or an alloy thereof.

5. The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the phosphonic acid coating layer is formed by coating the oxide overlayer with a phosphonic acid having the formula H 2 RPO 3 , wherein R is an omega-functionalized hydrocarbon ligand.

6. The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the device surface comprises titanium metal or an alloy thereof.

7. The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a dental, medical or orthopedic implant.

8. The implantable device of claim 7 , wherein the orthopedic device is selected from the group consisting of knee replacement devices and hip replacement devices.

9. The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the omega carbon is directed away from the substrate surface.

10. The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the ligands are chemically transformed to react and covalently bond to bone protein or osteoconductive proteins or peptides.

11. The implantable device of claim 1 , wherein the phosphonates are functionalized at the omega carbon with groups selected from the groups consisting of amino, carboxylate and thiol groups.

12. An implantable device comprising a metalloid, polymeric or ceramic surface with an oxide overlayer, and a coating layer directly contacting said surface, wherein said coating layer comprises inorganic phosphate groups and said inorganic phosphate layer is formed by coating said oxide surface with a phosphoric acid solution and heating said coated oxide overlayer so that so that said phosphoric acid coating reacts with said oxide overlayer and bonds said phosphoric acid coating thereto, thereby providing an inorganic phosphate coating comprising free hydroxyl groups.

13. The implantable device of claim 12 , wherein the inorganic phosphate layer is functionalized for covalent attachment of bone tissue proteins or osteoconductive proteins or peptides.

14. The implantable device of claim 12 , wherein the inorganic phosphate coating is covalently bonded to the oxide layer.

15. The implantable device of claim 12 , wherein the device is a dental, medical or orthopedic implant.