Osseointegration of Alkali-Modified NANOZR Implants: An In Vivo Study

Ingredients and surface modification methods are being continually developed to improve osseointegration of dental implants and reduce healing times. In this study, we demonstrate in vitro that, by applying concentrated alkali treatment to NANOZR with strong bending strength and fracture toughness, a significant improvement in the bone differentiation of rat bone marrow cells can be achieved. We investigated the influence of materials modified with this treatment in vivo, on implanted surrounding tissues using polychrome sequential fluorescent labeling and micro-computer tomography scanning. NANOZR implant screws in the alkali-treated group and the untreated group were evaluated after implantation in the femur of Sprague–Dawley male rats, indicating that the amount of new bone in the alkali-modified NANOZR was higher than that of unmodified NANOZR. Alkali-modified NANOZR implants proved to be useful for the creation of new implant materials.