Bioactive Coatings and the Safety of Using Metal Implants

Metal implants are commonly used in implant practice due to their very good mechanical properties and low cost of production. Unfortunately, these materials do not have sufficient biological activity, and their long-term exposure to human body fluids can cause corrosion and release toxic ions. Bioactive coatings on metal implants enable bone growth at the implant site. Moreover, ions of biogenic elements and active ingredients are released from their surface in a controlled manner, which prevent inflammation, bacterial growth, or the formation of blood clots. In addition, the bioactive coating creates a tight barrier between the metal implant and body tissues, providing the implants with a non-corrosive environment. This article describes an important issue of the safety of using metal implants and implants with a bioactive coating. The paper presents the characteristics of selected bioactive coatings, their mechanism of action, and application techniques. Particular attention was paid to the use of bioglasses and glass-crystalline materials for bioactive coatings.