Research Microscopy Solutions
Online Shop Global website (English)
back
Research Microscopy Solutions
recommended searches
popular searches
Improving Nano-Structured Surfaces for Implants with Scanning Electron Microscopy
User Story

Improving Nano-Structured Surfaces for Implants with Scanning Electron Microscopy

byZEISS Microscopy 10 March 2025 5 min read
Page Content
Get in touch
Introduction

Improving Nano-Structured Surfaces for Implants with Scanning Electron Microscopy

Nanotechnology, a rapidly evolving field of science, is making significant strides in dental and medical applications, particularly in implantology. The integration of nano-surfaced implants is becoming increasingly common, marking a transformative change in modern implant practice.

Nano-structured implant surfaces significantly improve implant performance, the overall success of implant procedures, and cellular and tissue responses. They also ultimately benefit osseointegration – the direct structural and functional connection between living bone and the surface of a load-bearing artificial implant.

Promimic entrance

Making Implants Integrate

Promimic, a Swedish company specializing in the development and marketing of nano-structured surfaces for implants, heavily relies on scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) for its research and production processes. The ability to analyze and ensure the quality of these surfaces is critical for Promimic's mission to improve osseointegration in dental and orthopedic implants.

Surfaces Developed from Cutting-Edge Research

Prominic has developed a new surface technology called HAnano Surface. Compared to traditional coatings where the bone is anchored to the coating, HAnano Surface does not act as an interface separating the bone from the implant. The nano-thin surface allows newly formed bone to grow directly into the micrometer topography, or roughness, of the implant surface, providing mechanical stability and improved patient outcomes. With the particle-based HAnano Surface, there is no risk of cracking or delamination of the implant.
Promimic's HAnano Surface has been proven to enhance osseointegration, supported by over 30 scientific studies and the successful application of more than two million implants.

SEMs are essential for Promimic's operations. They enable the company to analyze the nano-thin surfaces that allow newly formed bone to grow directly into the implant's micrometer topography.

Karin Danielsson | Promimic

Without the SEMs, we simply could not survive. The microscopes are crucial for our research and development of new surfaces and the production of surfaces for implants. We need the microscopes to analyze the surfaces to ensure quality and accuracy.

Karin Danielsson Lab Manager and Project Manager at Promimic

Under the Microscope

ZEISS Sigma | HAnano surface

HAnano Surface-treated PEEK implant

ZEISS Sigma | HAnano surface

HAnano Surface-treated titanium implant

Karin Danielsson | Promimic

High Performance and Continuous Operation

The microscopes at Promimic are often in continuous operation, reflecting the high demand for their use. Danielsson notes that the microscopes are operational not only during standard working hours but also on weekends, highlighting the company's commitment to maximizing their capabilities. “Considering the scale of our company, it is challenging to identify another firm that utilizes microscopes as extensively as we do”, she says.

The user-friendly design of the ZEISS Sigma SEMs allows staff to capture high-quality images without requiring extensive microscopy expertise, freeing up skilled personnel to focus on other critical tasks: developing surfaces for different types of implants, new applications, and varying geometries.
 

The ZEISS Sigma microscopes are significantly faster and more user-friendly compared to former generations of microscopes. You don’t need to be a microscopy imaging expert to take high-quality images, and we don’t need to hire Ph.D.’s to analyze the pictures.

Karin Danielsson Lab Manager and Project Manager at Promimic

Driving Innovation in Biomaterials

Looking ahead, Promimic's partnership with ZEISS extends beyond the mere acquisition of microscopes; it encompasses comprehensive training and technical support. ZEISS provides fast service and expert guidance, ensuring that Promimic can fully leverage the technological capabilities of their SEMs.

For Promimic, advanced microscopy is a complete solution that enhances research capabilities and drives innovation in the medical field. As the company continues to innovate in the field of biomaterials, the integration of advanced microscopy will play a crucial role in developing new products and improving existing ones.

Karin Danielsson | Promimic

For us, it is very easy to contact the ZEISS service team. The service technicians are often available, and our primary ZEISS technician is highly service-oriented and knowledgeable. In most cases, the technician can explain things and advise us on what to do over the phone.

Karin Danielsson Lab Manager and Project Manager at Promimic
Promimic entrance

About Promimic

Promimic is a growth company located in the GoCo Health Innovation City in Mölndal, Sweden, just outside Gothenburg. The company develops and markets biomaterials for surfaces for improved osseointegration to leading companies in the fields of dental and orthopedic implants.

Promimic was founded in 2004 as a spin-off from the founders’ Ph.D. project at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg. Initially, the biomaterials were marketed only for dental implants. However, the opening of Promimic’s US branch in Austin, Texas, in 2017 had a significant impact on the opportunities of expanding the product portfolio to include coating surfaces for orthopedic implants. The main product HAnano Surface has been developed from cutting-edge research.

In Brief

  • Nanotechnology significantly enhances dental and medical applications in implantology by improving the performance of nano-structured implant surfaces. These surfaces lead to better cellular and tissue responses, increased success rates of implant procedures, and improved osseointegration, which is the direct connection between living bone and the implant surface.

  • Promimic relies heavily on SEMs for analyzing and ensuring the quality of their nano-structured surfaces. SEMs are crucial for their research and development processes, allowing the company to verify that the nano-thin surfaces enable newly formed bone to grow directly into the implant's micrometer topography. The microscopes are in continuous operation to meet high demand, and their user-friendly design allows staff to capture high-quality images without needing extensive expertise.

  • Promimic has developed a new surface technology called HAnano Surface, which allows newly formed bone to grow directly into the micrometer topography of the implant, enhancing mechanical stability and patient outcomes. Unlike traditional coatings that act as an interface, HAnano Surface promotes better osseointegration. The combination of high wettability and optimal surface chemistry, with optimized nano-roughness, mediates bioactivity and specific protein adsorption to the implant. These properties regulate cell behavior and influence tissue regeneration by increasing the osteoblast functions, thus building more bone faster. This technology is supported by over 30 scientific studies and has been successfully applied in more than 700,000 implants.
Share this page

Related Content

19 July 2022

Structural Characterization of Complex Biomineralized Materials With 3D X-Ray Microscopy

User Story - 2 min read
ZEISS Microscopy
Working Towards Ultrasensitive, Affordable Sensors for Glucose and Glyphosate
8 November 2021

Working Towards Ultrasensitive, Affordable Sensors for Glucose and Glyphosate

User Story - 3 min read
ZEISS Microscopy