Surface treatment with the NanoAccelTM surface modification process* leads to accelerated cell attachment and proliferation which in turn leads to enhanced tissue integration. The NanoAccel surface modification process has been applied to a variety of implant materials including metals (Ti, stainless steel, and cobalt chrome), polymers (PTFE, UHMWPE, PET and PEEK) as well as biologic materials (ligament, tendon, bone, and collagen). The NanoAccel process is non‐additive: it is not a coating.
Mechanism of Action
The NanoAccel process is unique in that it provides simultaneous advantages of exceptionally high process energies and exceptionally shallow process depths. The NanoAccel process is not a surface coating. The NanoAccel process achieves surface modification through surface bombardment by clusters or packets of clustered atoms consisting of a few hundreds to a few thousands of gas atoms bound together by weak interatomic forces. The clusters become electrically charged and are accelerated through high voltage in a vacuum. Exogenesis produces cluster ions with an inert non‐toxic gas which leaves no surface residuals following exposure. Upon impact with a surface, the ions and their constituent gas atoms dissipate and are pumped away.
The NanoAccel process produces medical implant surfaces with improved properties such as enhance cell attachment, accelerated cell proliferation, and cell selectivity; while affecting only 2‐10 nanometers of the implant’s surface, the process produces no change to the integrity of the underlying structure of the implant.
The two key improvements that the NanoAccel process makes to allograft tissue that can positively impact cell attachment and proliferation are nanoscale texturing and an increase in hydrophilicity of the allograft surface.
Potential Benefits of the NanoAccel Process on Allograft Tissue
The NanoAccel process leads to significantly increased osteoblast proliferation on allograft bone and ligamentous fibroblast or tenocyte proliferation on soft tissue. Potential clinical indications may include allograft fusion procedures in spine and small joints, tendon bone interface healing in ACL, rotator cuff repair procedures, and chronic wound care. In addition, the NanoAccel process provides significant surface disinfection. The NanoAccel process treatment of biological implants has the potential to enhance cell attachment and proliferation and significantly decrease integration time.
The NanoAccel process uses the inert gas argon which allows modification of the surface physically without changing surface chemistry. Materials treated with the NanoAccel process may be considered “Minimally Manipulated” because the treatment has no affect on the chemistry and integrity of the allograft.
Allograft In vitro Studies for Cell Attachment and Proliferation
Cortical Bone ‐ The two key improvements that the NanoAccel process may make to allograft tissue that positively impact cell attachment and proliferation are thought to be nanoscale texturing and increased
hydrophilicity of the tissue. The resultant treatment of cortical bone (Figure 1 and 2) are evidenced by greatly enhanced cell attachment and proliferation, indicative of enhanced integration.