Technology Portfolio Detail - ITEK - The Commercialisation Company of the University of South Australia

This bioactive coating is an incredibly thin, very strongly bonded and functionally graded nano-coating for orthopaedic and dental implants. It encourages bone to grow around the coated implant faster and develop a bond between the implant and the bone that is much stronger. This can help reduce revision surgery rates for reconstructive and trauma patients, and help to reduce the time taken to complete dental implantation.

The coating is from 50 to 100nm thin and the strength of bonding has been measured to be approximately 8 times greater than currently used ceramics. The increase in bone growth rate has been determined in both human and animal studies and compared with uncoated controls, indicating that the nano-coating offers better performance over current uncoated implants. Physical tests proving the robustness of the nano-coating compared with current ceramics indicate nano-coated implants will fail significantly less often than current ceramic coated implants. Sheep trials of coated screws are currently underway.

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