Volume 5, Issue 9 pp. 996-1006
Review

Improving Biocompatibility of Implantable Metals by Nanoscale Modification of Surfaces: An Overview of Strategies, Fabrication Methods, and Challenges

Fabio Variola

Fabio Variola

Laboratory for the Study of Calcified Tissues and Biomaterials Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal Montreal, QC H3C 3J7 (Canada)

Nano-Femto Laboratory INRS-EMT Université du Québec 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet Varennes, QC J3X 1S2 (Canada)

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Fiorenzo Vetrone

Fiorenzo Vetrone

Laboratory for the Study of Calcified Tissues and Biomaterials Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal Montreal, QC H3C 3J7 (Canada)

Nano-Femto Laboratory INRS-EMT Université du Québec 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet Varennes, QC J3X 1S2 (Canada)

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Ludovic Richert

Ludovic Richert

Laboratory for the Study of Calcified Tissues and Biomaterials Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal Montreal, QC H3C 3J7 (Canada)

Faculté de Médicine 11 rue Humann, Strasbourg 67085 (France)

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Pawel Jedrzejowski

Pawel Jedrzejowski

Plasmionique, Inc. 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet Varennes, QC J3X 1S2 (Canada)

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Ji-Hyun Yi

Ji-Hyun Yi

Laboratory for the Study of Calcified Tissues and Biomaterials Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal Montreal, QC H3C 3J7 (Canada)

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Sylvia Zalzal

Sylvia Zalzal

Laboratory for the Study of Calcified Tissues and Biomaterials Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal Montreal, QC H3C 3J7 (Canada)

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Sylvain Clair

Sylvain Clair

Nano-Femto Laboratory INRS-EMT Université du Québec 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet Varennes, QC J3X 1S2 (Canada)

CNRS, IM2NP UMR 6242 Aix-Marseille Université Campus de Saint-Jérôme Marseille Cedex 13397 (France)

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Andranik Sarkissian

Andranik Sarkissian

Plasmionique, Inc. 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet Varennes, QC J3X 1S2 (Canada)

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Dmitrii F. Perepichka

Dmitrii F. Perepichka

Department of Chemistry, McGill University 801 Sherbrooke Street West Montreal, QC H3A 2K6 (Canada)

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James D. Wuest

James D. Wuest

Département de Chimie, Université de Montréal Montreal, QC H3C 3J7 (Canada)

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Federico Rosei

Corresponding Author

Federico Rosei

Nano-Femto Laboratory INRS-EMT Université du Québec 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet Varennes, QC J3X 1S2 (Canada)

Federico Rosei, Nano-Femto Laboratory INRS-EMT Université du Québec 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet Varennes, QC J3X 1S2 (Canada).

Antonio Nanci, Laboratory for the Study of Calcified Tissues and Biomaterials Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal Montreal, QC H3C 3J7 (Canada).

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Antonio Nanci

Corresponding Author

Antonio Nanci

Laboratory for the Study of Calcified Tissues and Biomaterials Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal Montreal, QC H3C 3J7 (Canada)

Federico Rosei, Nano-Femto Laboratory INRS-EMT Université du Québec 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet Varennes, QC J3X 1S2 (Canada).

Antonio Nanci, Laboratory for the Study of Calcified Tissues and Biomaterials Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Montréal Montreal, QC H3C 3J7 (Canada).

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First published: 22 April 2009
Citations: 177

Abstract

The human body is an intricate biochemical–mechanical system, with an exceedingly precise hierarchical organization in which all components work together in harmony across a wide range of dimensions. Many fundamental biological processes take place at surfaces and interfaces (e.g., cell–matrix interactions), and these occur on the nanoscale. For this reason, current health-related research is actively following a biomimetic approach in learning how to create new biocompatible materials with nanostructured features. The ultimate aim is to reproduce and enhance the natural nanoscale elements present in the human body and to thereby develop new materials with improved biological activities. Progress in this area requires a multidisciplinary effort at the interface of biology, physics, and chemistry. In this Review, the major techniques that have been adopted to yield novel nanostructured versions of familiar biomaterials, focusing particularly on metals, are presented and the way in which nanometric surface cues can beneficially guide biological processes, exerting influence on cellular behavior, is illustrated.

Frontispiece adapted from Reference 94.

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