Bone tissue implant comprising lithium ions

Abstract

The present invention is based on that local administration of lithium ions in bone tissue has been found to improve the bone formation and bone mass upon implantation of a bone tissue implant in said bone tissue. In particular, the invention relates to a bone tissue implant having an implant surface covered by an oxide layer comprising lithium ions and a method for the manufacture thereof. A blasting powder comprising lithium ions, a method for locally increasing bone formation, and the use of lithium ions or a salt thereof for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for locally increasing bone formation are also provided by the present invention.

1 . An implant for implantation into bone tissue having a surface; said surface being covered by an oxide layer characterized in that said oxide layer comprises lithium ions. 
     
     
         2 . An implant according to  claim 1 , wherein said implant is a metallic implant. 
     
     
         3 . An implant according to  claim 2 , wherein said metallic implant comprises titanium or an alloy of titanium. 
     
     
         4 . An implant according to  claim 1 , wherein said implant is a non-metallic implant; said surface being an applied metallic implant layer. 
     
     
         5 . An implant according to  claim 4 , wherein said metallic implant layer comprises titanium or an alloy of titanium. 
     
     
         6 . An implant according to  claim 1 , wherein said oxide layer has a thickness within the range of from 2 to 100 nm. 
     
     
         7 . An implant according to  claim 6 , wherein said oxide layer has a thickness within the range of from 2 to 18 nm. 
     
     
         8 . An implant according to  claim 6 , wherein said oxide layer has a thickness within the range of from 2 to 6 nm. 
     
     
         9 . An implant according to  claim 1 , wherein said oxide layer is a metal oxide layer formed from said surface of said implant. 
     
     
         10 . An implant according to  claim 1  further comprising a deposit on top of said oxide layer, wherein said deposit comprises a bone stimulating agent. 
     
     
         11 . An implant according to  claim 10 , wherein said bone stimulating agent is selected from the group consisting of lithium, strontium, magnesium and calcium or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . An implant according to  claim 10 , wherein said deposit is a salt precipitation comprising any one or a combination of ions selected from lithium, strontium, magnesium and calcium. 
     
     
         13 . An implant according to  claim 12 , wherein said salt precipitation is a lithium salt precipitation. 
     
     
         14 . An implant according to  claim 1 , wherein said implant lacks a coating comprising a calcium phosphate compound. 
     
     
         15 . An implant according to  claim 1 , wherein said surface of said implant comprises a micro roughness. 
     
     
         16 . An implant according to  claim 1 , wherein said surface of said implant comprises fluorine. 
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing a bone tissue implant having an implant surface covered by an oxide layer comprising lithium ions, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing an implant having an implant surface;   b) forming an oxide layer covering said implant surface;   c) forming negatively charged ions on said oxide layer; and   d) bringing said oxide layer into contact with lithium ions.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein said oxide layer is formed spontaneously. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein said negatively charged ions on said oxide layer are formed by subjecting said implant surface to an alkaline environment. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein said alkaline environment is formed by subjecting said implant surface to an alkaline solution. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein said negatively charged ions on said oxide layer are formed by applying a potential within the range of −0.5 V to −3.5 V. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein said step c and said step d are performed simultaneously. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein said oxide layer is brought into contact with lithium ions by subjecting said oxide layer to a solution comprising lithium ions. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein said solution comprises lithium hydroxide. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein said solution comprises lithium hydroxide in a concentration of 5.3 M or less. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein said solution comprises lithium hydroxide in a concentration in the range of from 0.05 to 2 M. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of forming a deposit comprising a bone stimulating agent on top of said oxide layer. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein said bone stimulating agent is selected from the group consisting of lithium, strontium, calcium and magnesium or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein said deposit is formed by precipitating a salt comprising any one or a combination of the ions selected from lithium, strontium, calcium and magnesium on said oxide layer. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said salt is lithium hydroxide. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said deposit is formed by applying a potential which is more negative than −3.5 V. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said deposit is formed by subjecting said implant surface to an alkaline solution comprising lithium hydroxide in a concentration of more than 5.3 M. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of creating a micro roughness on said surface of said implant after step a). 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of applying fluorine to said surface of said implant. 
     
     
         35 . A blasting powder comprising a metal oxide, wherein said metal oxide comprises lithium ions. 
     
     
         36 . A blasting powder according to  claim 35 , wherein said metal oxide is titanium dioxide. 
     
     
         37 . A blasting powder according to  claim 35 , wherein said metal oxide is lithium oxide. 
     
     
         38 . A method for locally increasing bone formation by administering a composition comprising lithium ions or a salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to a person in need thereof. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein said composition is administered at an implantation site upon implantation of an implant into bone tissue at said implantation site before, simultaneously with and/or after said implant is placed in a cavity in the bone tissue at said site. 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A kit for implantation of an implant into bone tissue comprising an implant characterized in that said kit further comprises a composition comprising lithium ions or a salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.