SILICON NITRIDE
The
IDEAL
Biomaterial
In the race to achieve interbody fusion, material matters. And no material fosters an environment for faster fusion like silicon nitride. Featuring the ability to achieve superior new bone growth and osseointegration, along with proven bacteriostatic properties and enhanced imaging attributes, silicon nitride outperforms PEEK and titanium.
Faster Fusion Rates
The surface chemistry and natural nanostructure topography of silicon nitride provide an optimal environment for stimulation of osteoprogenitor cells to differentiate into osteoblasts.
GREATER PROTEIN ADSORPTION
Silicon nitride demonstrates significantly greater protein adsorption (fibronectin, laminin and vitronectin) in comparison to PEEK and titanium.
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1. Webster TJ, Patel AA, Rahaman MN, Sonny Bal B. Anti-infective and osteointegration properties of silicon nitride, poly(ether ether ketone), and titanium implants [published online ahead of print July 31, 2012]. Acta Biomater.
2. Gorth DJ, Puckett S, Ercan B, Webster TJ, Rahaman M, Bal BS. Decreased bacteria activity on Si(3)N(4) surfaces compared with PEEK or titanium. Int J Nanomedicine. 2012;7:4829-4840.
Bacteriostatic Properties
Silicon nitride inhibits bacterial colonization and biofilm formation. Silicon nitride demonstrates significantly lower biofilm formation at 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours as compared to PEEK and titanium.
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DEMONSTRATED ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES
Live bacteria (S. epidermidis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli and Enterococcus) associated with silicon nitride implants are 8 to 30 times lower than PEEK and titanium.
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1. Webster TJ, Patel AA, Rahaman MN, Sonny Bal B. Anti-infective and osteointegration properties of silicon nitride, poly(ether ether ketone), and titanium implants [published online ahead of print July 31, 2012]. Acta Biomater.
2. Gorth DJ, Puckett S, Ercan B, Webster TJ, Rahaman M, Bal BS. Decreased bacteria activity on Si(3)N(4) surfaces compared with PEEK or titanium. Int J Nanomedicine. 2012;7:4829-4840.
3. R.M. Bock, B.J. McEntire, B.S. Bal, M.N. Rahaman, M. Boffelli, and G. Pezzotti, “Surface Modulation of Silicon Nitride Ceramics for Orthopaedic Applications,” Acta Biomater., 26 318–330 (2015).
Enhanced Imaging
Silicon nitride implants provide favorable imaging across all modalities.
SUPERIOR IMAGING QUALITIES
Silicon nitride implants are semi-radiolucent with clearly visible boundaries, and produce no distortion under MRI and no scattering under CT.
What is
SILICON NITRIDE (Si3N4)
Silicon nitride is an inorganic and non-metallic material made of silicon and nitrogen, two
elements that are essential for life. First synthesized in 1857, silicon nitride was commercialized in the 1950s. Research funded by the US, EU, and Japanese governments during the 1970s and 1980s helped optimize the material and reduce manufacturing costs. Because of its advantages, silicon nitride was adopted in many industries.
In the 1990’s, naturally-occurring silicon nitride was discovered in meteorite stardust, suggesting intergalactic origins of the material from the beginning of time.
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1 R. Jugdaohsingh, “Silicon and Bone Health,” J Nutr Heal. Aging, 11 [2] 99–110 (2007).
2 L.M. Jurkić, I. Cepanec, S.K. Pavelić, and K. Pavelić, “Biological and Therapeutic Effects of Ortho-Silicic Acid and some Ortho-Silicic Acid- Releasing Compounds: New Perspectives for Therapy,” Nutr.Metab. (Lond)., 10 [1] 2 (2013).
3 D.M. Reffitt, N. Ogston, R. Jugdaohsingh, H.F.J. Cheung, B.A.J. Evans, R.P.H. Thompson, J.J. Powell, and G.N. Hampson, “Orthosilicic Acid Stimulates Collagen Type 1 Synthesis and Osteoblastic Differentiation in Human Osteoblast-Like Cells in vitro,” Bone, 32 [2] 127–135 (2003).
4 M. Schneider, “The Importance of Ammonia in Mammalian Cell Culture,” J. Biotechnol., 46 [3] 161–185 (1996).
5 R.C. Sangster and D.J. Fisher, “Part C. Si3N4 Products, Uses and Markets;” pp. 137–246 in Form. Silicon Nitride from 19th to 21st Century, 2nd ed. Geneva, Switzerland, 2015.
6 A.J. Fyzik and D.R. Beamant, “Microstructure and Properties of Self-Reinforced Silicon Nitride,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 76 [11] 2737–2744 (1993).
7 F.L. Riley, “Silicon Nitride and Related Materials,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 83 [2] 245–265 (2000).