Zeta Potential Control is a concept that has been widely researched and reported in the literature.  Especially in relation to bone cell response to titanium alloy total joint implants.

It is well established that cell adhesion to material surfaces is strongly dependent upon the electrostatic charge between the cell and the substrate.

All materials, when placed in an aqueous environment, exhibit a surface charge.  This may be positive, zero or negative and depends upon the surface chemistry of the material and the presence and magnitude of the ionic species in solution.  A material's surface charge in a particular aqueous environment is known as its zeta potential.  

A number of studies in the literature1,2,3 have shown that a material that has an electronegative surface charge is more amendable to osteoblast attachment and proliferation than a surface having zero or electro-positive charge.  This results in enhanced bone formation.

Bone healing involves a complex cascade of events at the cellular level, which are not fully understood.  However, the adsorption of proteins and other 'factors' onto a surface and subsequent cell attachment and proliferation to the osteoblast lineage are important steps.  The magnitude and sign of the surface charge (zeta potential) of the implanted material has an important influence on these interactions and hence the bone healing cascade.

Biocomposites has developed a unique process ZPC™ which confers Genex^® with the electronegative surface charge required to ensure a more robust and predictable bone healing response.  Genex® bone void filler resorbs and is replaced by bone during the healing process.