Effect of titanium implants on primary mineralization following 6 and 14 days of rat tibial healing

The effect of pure commercial titanium implants on the process of primary mineralization was studied. This was examined by insertion of titanium implants into rat tibial bone after ablation. The effects of the titanium were studied through the behaviour of extracellular matrix vesicles (MV). Methods of morphometric analysis at the TEM level were applied. The insertion of titanium implants was followed by an increase in the number of MV as well as vesicular diameter and by a decrease in vesicular distance from the calcified front when compared to normal healing. These results suggest that the process of MV maturation around titanium implants was delayed when compared to normal primary bone formation during bone healing. The delay in mineralization was compensated by an increase in vesicle production, resulting in an enhancement of primary mineralization by the titanium.