A review on multifunctional bioceramic coatings in hip implants for osteointegration enhancement

As demand for orthopedic surgery increases, more modern ceramic materials have been developed progressively. Bioceramic coating has been the center of focus to tackle poor osteointegration and complications resulting from the metallic stem and femoral head. The ability to form a passivation layer, protection against corrosion tendency, and prevention of wear particles leading to osteolysis, are some of the characteristics required within the hip replacement surgery. Promising coatings such as diamond-like carbon and titanium nitride materials have undergone successful clinical trials as well as deposition methods to tailor their chemical and structural properties. The aim of this review paper is to give an insight into hip replacement materials and related properties. The importance of the tribocorrosion effect and its electrochemical fundamentals are also examined to study the viable coating deposition methods. Both careful selections of implant materials and deposition methods are vital to maximize the osteointegration capability, whether application is used in bearing articulation (ball-on-socket) or femoral stem.