Deposition of discrete nanoparticles on a nanostructured surface of an implant

1. A method of forming an implant to be implanted into living bone, the method comprising the acts of:

roughening at least a portion of the implant surface to produce a microscale roughened surface;

forming a nanoscale roughened surface on the microscale roughened surface; and

depositing discrete nanoparticles on the nanoscale roughened surface though a one-step process of exposing the nanoscale roughened surface to a solution including the nanoparticles, the nanoparticles comprising a material having a property that promotes osseointegration, wherein a portion of the roughened surface is exposed between at least some of the discrete nanoparticles such that the exposed roughened portion between the discrete nanoparticles is for contacting bone.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant is made of a metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, cobalt, chromium, titanium, stainless steel, and alloys thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant is made from a material including ceramic.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant is a dental implant.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the portion of the implant surface is a threaded bottom portion for facilitating bonding with bone.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of forming a nanoscale roughened surface over the microscale roughened surface comprises:

providing a vapor of a nanostructuring material; and

depositing the vapor on the microscale roughened surface to form nanostructures of the nano structuring material on the implant surface.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the implant is made of titanium and the act of roughening the implant surface to produce a microscale roughened surface comprises:

removing a native oxide layer from the implant surface; and

acid etching the resulting surface.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the act of roughening the implant surface to produce a microscale roughened surface creates irregularities, the irregularities having peak-to-valley heights not greater than about 20 microns.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles include hydroxyapatite nanocrystals having dimensions of about 20 nanometers to about 100 nanometers.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the solution further includes a 2-methoxyethanol solvent.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the act of depositing the hydroxyapatite nanocrystals further comprises adjusting the pH of the solution.

12. A method of forming a dental implant made of titanium or titanium alloy, the method comprising the acts of:

etching at least a threaded bottom portion of the implant to remove a native oxide layer;

after the etching, forming a roughened surface on the threaded bottom portion by use of an acid etching process, the roughened surface having an array of microscale irregularities having peak-to-valley heights not greater than about 20 microns;

forming nanostructures on the roughened surface, and

without pretreating the roughened surface, depositing discrete hydroxyapatite nanocrystals on the roughened surface by exposure to a solution comprising 2-methoxyethanol solvent and the hydroxyapatite nanocrystals.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the microscale irregularities have a peak-to-valley height of from about 1 micron to about 10 microns.

14. The method of claim 12 , further including one or more cleaning or rinsing steps after the acid-etching step and prior to depositing the hydroxyapatite nanocrystals.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the microscale irregularities include cone-shaped elements.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the act of etching includes a first acid solution including aqueous hydrofluoric acid and the act of acid etching includes a mixture of sulfuric and hydrochloric acids.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the act of forming nanostructures on the roughened surface comprises:

providing a vapor of a nanostructuring material; and

depositing the vapor on the surface to form nanostructures of the nanostructuring material on the implant surface.

18. A method of forming a nanocrystalline surface on an implant, the method comprising the acts of:

roughening at least a portion of the implant surface to form a roughened surface having microscale irregularities;

forming nanostructures on the roughened surface; and

without forming an alkoxide on the roughened surface, depositing discrete nanocrystals on the roughened surface, the nanocrystals comprising a material having a property that promotes osseointegration, wherein a portion of the roughened surface is exposed between at least some of the discrete nanocrystals such that the exposed roughened portion between the discrete nanocrystals is for contacting bone.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the implant is made of a metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, cobalt, chromium, titanium, stainless steel, or alloys thereof.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the act of roughening the implant surface comprises:

removing a native oxide layer from the implant surface; and

acid etching the resulting surface.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the act of forming nanostructures on the roughened surface comprises:

providing a vapor of a nanostructuring material; and

depositing the vapor on the surface to form nanostructures of the nanostructuring material on the implant surface.

22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the act of roughening the implant surface creates irregularities, the irregularities having peak-to-valley heights not greater than about 20 microns.

23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the act of depositing the hydroxyapatite nanocrystals includes using a solution of 2-methoxyethanol solvent and the hydroxyapatite nanocrystals.

24. A method of forming an implant comprising the acts of:

providing a titanium implant;

forming nanostructures on a surface of the titanium implant; and

depositing discrete hydroxyapatite nanoparticles on the surface of the implant, wherein a portion of the roughened surface is exposed between at least some of the discrete nanoparticles such that the exposed roughened portion between the discrete nanoparticles is for contacting bone.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the act of forming nano structures on the surface of the titanium implant comprises:

providing a vapor of a nanostructuring material; and

depositing the vapor on the implant surface to form nanostructures of the nanostructuring material on the implant surface.

26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the act of depositing the hydroxyapatite nanoparticles includes exposing the surface to a solution including the nanoparticles.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the solution further includes a 2-methoxyethanol solvent.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are located on the nano structures.

29. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles are located on the surface between the nano structures.

30. A method of forming a dental implant made of titanium or titanium alloy, the method comprising the acts of:

grit blasting at least a threaded bottom portion of the implant to remove a native oxide layer and to form a roughened surface on the threaded bottom portion by use of an acid etching process, the roughened surface having an array of microscale irregularities having peak-to-valley heights not greater than about 20 microns;

forming nanostructures on the roughened surface, and

depositing discrete hydroxyapatite nanocrystals on the roughened surface by exposure to a solution comprising 2-methoxyethanol solvent and the hydroxyapatite nanocrystals, a portion of the roughened surface is exposed between at least some of the discrete nanocrystals such that the exposed roughened portion between the discrete nanoparticles is for contacting bone.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the act of forming a nanoscale roughened surface over the microscale roughened surface comprises:

providing a vapor of a nanostructuring material; and

depositing the vapor on the microscale roughened surface to form nanostructures of the nanostructuring material on the implant surface.