Titan Spine Announces the Release of Cellular Data on Its Surface Technology

MEQUON, Wis., May 01, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Titan Spine, a medical device surface technology company focused on the development of innovative spinal interbody fusion implants, announced today that an article published in The Spine Journal reports in-vitro data that demonstrates a superior bone-forming response to the company’s unique titanium implant surface when compared to smooth titanium and Polyetheretherketone (PEEK). In particular, the peer-reviewed data shows that Titan Spine’s surface, which features a proprietary, patent-protected combination of textures on the macro, micro, and nano levels, significantly increased osteoblast maturation and local production of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP’s). The authors, led by Barbara Boyan, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, conclude that “modifying surface structure is sufficient to create an osteogenic environment that could enhance bone formation and implant stability, without addition of exogenous growth factors.”
“We are very pleased that this data set has been published,” commented Kevin Gemas, President of Titan Spine. “It clearly illustrates that our surface technology produces a superior environment for bone production over other common interbody fusion implant materials. This data, and others we hope will be published in the future, is helping to change the way spine surgeons and the rest of the spinal community think about interbody fusion implants. No longer should they be thought of as mere interbody spacers, but rather as active participants in the fusion process that promote the body to produce BMP’s naturally and avoid the need for the addition of BMP that was developed externally.”
The abstract of the article, titled, “Osteoblasts exhibit a more differentiated phenotype and increased bone morphogenetic protein production on titanium alloy substrates than on poly-ether-ether-ketone,” can be viewed at http://www.thespinejournalonline.com/article/S1529-9430 (12)00091-5/abstract.