In vivo bioactivity of DNA‐based coatings: An experimental study in rats

Abstract DNA‐based coatings possess beneficial properties useful for medical and dental implants. The present study evaluated the potential in vivo bioactivity of DNA‐based coatings, either or not pretreated in simulated body fluid (SBF). DNA‐based coatings were generated on titanium cylinders using layer‐by‐layer deposition, with bis‐ureido‐surfactant as the cationic component and DNA as the anionic component. Noncoated titanium implants and CaP‐coated implants served as controls. A total of 80 implants, divided in four experimental groups (n = 10) were implanted unilaterally into the lateral femoral condyles of 80 rats. After implantation periods of 1 and 4 weeks, the bone‐to‐implant contact and bone volume around the implants were determined histomorphometrically. The results of this study showed that DNA‐based coatings and CaP coatings increased bone‐to‐implant contact after 1 week compared to noncoated controls. After 4 weeks of implantation, bone‐to‐implant contact increased significantly for SBF pretreated DNA coatings and CaP coatings, whereas DNA‐coated implants showed no additional effect. The bone‐to‐implant contact of noncoated controls increased to the level of the DNA‐coated implants. Consequently, this study demonstrates that DNA‐based coatings are histocompatible and favor early bone responses. SBF‐pretreated DNA‐based coatings were found to increase both early and late peri‐implant bone responses. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2010