Glassy Coatings of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HAP) can be applied to cobalt-chrome (CoCr) and titanium-vanadium-aluminum (Ti-6-4) orthopedic alloys. These transparent coatings are extremely well adhered and can not be easily scraped off. Implant Sciences has pioneered the use of high energy ion beam processing for the deposition of coatings having complex composition. Uisng nano-particulate HAP (nHAP) as the source material, tenaciously adhered, ultra dense nanocrystalline HAP coatings have been achieved.

The primary cause for premature failure of total hip and knee replacements is loosening of the prosthesis in the recipient bone. Materials such as HAP and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) encourage the in-growth and attachment of bone to the surface on which it is deposited. Currently available methods dissociate or breakup these larger complex structures into their constituent elements and smaller fragments significantly reducing their effectiveness as an osteoconductive material. With the use of a high energy deposition technique and nano engineered HAP complete molecules are transported and deposited on the surface. The resulting coating has a high degree of HAP intact on the surface.

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