Novel surface treatment makes bone implants safer and faster to integrate

Scannende elektronenmicroscoopafbeelding van een met zilver gedoteerde poreuze micro-boogoxidelaag op titanium (Foto: Fraunhofer IFAM)

3 November 2025 – Researchers at Fraunhofer IFAM in Bremen are developing a tailored surface treatment for titanium bone implants. In heavily contaminated wounds, as seen in war zones, infections after surgery are a major concern. The new layer is produced by micro-arc oxidation and forms a porous oxide structure that can be loaded with an antibiotic. The drug is then released locally and over an extended period directly around the implant, helping to lower infection risks and support bone ingrowth. Electron microscopy images show a fine porous network in which silver particles can also be incorporated for additional antibacterial effects. The technology is being advanced together with a rehabilitation center in Lviv, with a focus on patients from conflict regions.

Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM>