A plasma coating for bone implants has been developed by a team of researchers in an international project in a bid to decrease the rate of complications.

The research has been led by Dr Behnam Akhavan from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Engineering. The technology has been developed to increase the likelihood of an implant fusing to surrounding bone, and by reduce the chances of rejection or infection.

Dr Akhavan said: “We have developed a highly robust plasma coating from a mixture of low-cost argon, nitrogen and acetylene gas that is placed on the implant. Bone-signalling molecules are then applied to encourage stem cells to produce bone.

“The implants have been surface-engineered using the plasma technology and will be overgrown with bone-producing cells once implanted in the body, allowing them to firmly attach to bone tissue.

“The mechanically strong coating can remain on the implant surface for long durations, even if it is scratched during surgery. The bioactive molecule coating effectively ‘hides’ the metallic implant from the body, so it is treated as a biological structure rather than an invasion.

“Rapid implant integration reduces the chance of an implant loosening and failing, therefore eliminating the need for revision surgeries.”

The University of Sydney’s School of Aerospace, Mechanic and Mechatronic Engineering, School of Physics, the School of Civil Engineering has worked with the Heart Research Institute, and the University Medical Centre Utrecht in the Netherlands in developing the research.