Coating improves medical implants

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 9 (UPI) -- Israeli scientists say they have developed a superior method of coating orthopedic and dental implants.

Tel Aviv University Professor Noam Eliaz said he and his team have developed an electrochemical process for coating metal implants, vastly improving their functionality, longevity and integration into the body.

"The surface chemistry, structure and morphology of our new coatings resemble biological material," Eliaz said. "We've been able to enhance the integration of the coating with the mineralized tissue of the body, allowing more peoples' bodies to accept implants."

He said the next-generation coating will include nano-particles to reinforce the coating and will also have the potential to incorporate biological material or drugs during the process itself.

Eliaz presented his findings in San Francisco during a May meeting of the Electrochemical Society. In addition, Eliaz said a 12-week implantation study recently published in the journal Acta Biomaterialia favorably compared the Tel Aviv University coatings with current commercial coatings.