TOF-SIMS application for evaluating the atomic structure of new bone substitute material

The aim of this experimental study is to evaluate, in vitro, the chemical composition and the micromorphological structure of a bone substitute material surface. This material is based on calcium triphosphate and hydroxyapatite microgranules. Some results of a preliminary surface study of the above mentioned bioceramic materials are reported. The study has been carried out by means of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), complemented by X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) measurements. Whereas XPS data supplies the average surface composition of the system, TOF-SIMS supplies laterally and depth resolved information on the sample. This preliminary study confirms the properties of osteoconduction and scaffold features of the material. Moreover, a possible osteoinductive capability could be due to the presence of surface micropores, which could help in the attraction of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), thus promoting the osteogenesis. © 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York.