Local Inflammatory Response after Intramuscularly Implantation of Anti-Adhesive Plasma-Fluorocarbon-Polymer Coated Ti6AI4V Discs in Rats

Orthopaedic implants and temporary osteosynthesis devices are commonly based on Titanium (Ti). For short-term devices, cell-material contact should be restricted for easy removal after bone healing. This could be achieved with anti-adhesive plasma-fluorocarbon-polymer (PFP) films created by low-temperature plasma processes. Two different PFP thin film deposition techniques, microwave (MW) and radiofrequency (RF) discharge plasma, were applied to receive smooth, hydrophobic surfaces with octafluoropropane (C(3)F(8)) or hexafluorohexane (C(6)F(6)) as precursors. This study aimed at examining the immunological local tissue reactions after simultaneous intramuscular implantation of four different Ti samples, designated as MW-C(3)F(8), MW-C(6)F(6), RF-C(3)F(8) and Ti-controls, in rats. A differentiated morphometric evaluation of the inflammatory reaction was conducted by immunohistochemical staining of CD68+ macrophages, CD163+ macrophages, MHC class II-positive cells, T lymphocytes, CD25+ regulatory T lymphocytes, NK cells and nestin-positive cells in cryosections of surrounding peri-implant tissue. Tissue samples were obtained on days 7, 14 and 56 for investigating the acute and chronical inflammation (n = 8 rats/group). Implants with a radiofrequency discharge plasma (RF-C(3)F(8)) coating exhibited a favorable short- and long-term immune/inflammatory response comparable to Ti-controls. This was also demonstrated by the significant decrease in pro-inflammatory CD68+ macrophages, possibly downregulated by significantly increasing regulatory T lymphocytes.