Method of making an osteoconductive polymer article and an osteoconductive polymer article thus made

Abstract

The disclosure relates to methods of making an osteoconductive polymer article for use as an orthopedic implant comprises steps of forming an article from a biocompatible, non-biodegradable polymer, the article comprising a non-flat surface with roughness Ra of at least 5 μm; providing a dispersion of bioactive ceramic particles of particle size at most 10 μm in a first solvent comprising a solvent for the polymer; coating at least the non-flat surface with the dispersion in at least one step; and rinsing the coated article with a second solvent being a non-solvent for the polymer to substantially remove the first solvent. Further disclosed is an osteoconductive polymer article for use as an orthopedic implant, which article is made from a biocompatible, non-biodegradable polymer and comprises a non-flat surface with roughness Ra of at least 5 μm, wherein bioactive ceramic particles of particle size at most 10 μm are partly embedded in the polymer at the surface of the article. The methods exhibit benefits in ease of modifying a surface layer with bioactive particles, applying mild conditions and not requiring use of further additives or post-treatments, or without significantly affecting bulk polymer properties, and result in an orthopedic implant article having particles adhering to the surface while still being accessible for interaction with surrounding tissue or fluid.