Nanotopographical Features of Plasma Sprayed Coatings on Bone Implant Surfaces

Previous studies have shown that nanostructured coatings produced by plasma spraying can stimulate cellular activity and promote bone healing. Since then, a number of studies have been conducted to better understand how coating nanotopography can be controlled and how it influences bioactivity and healing. This paper reviews some of the key findings in three areas: the effects of nanotopography on bone cell adhesion, the effects of nanotopography on bone-like apatite formation in simulated body fluid, and how to refine the nanotopography of plasma-sprayed coatings.