Patent ID: 6905723

Claim:
A method of preparing an implantable article, which method comprises: (a) providing a biocompatible substrate with a surface that is not coated with a calcium-containing compound, (b) incubating at least a portion of a surface of the biocompatible substrate with a composition consisting of (i) strontium ions in a concentration of about 0.1 mM to about 10 mM, (ii) calcium ions in a concentration of about 0.1 mM to about 10 mM, (iii) phosphate ions in a concentration of about 0.1 mM to about 10 mM, (iv) a liquid carrier, and optionally (v) a biological agent and/or one or more substances selected from the group consisting of sodium ions, magnesium ions, bicarbonate ions, hydroxyl ions, chloride ions, fluoride ions, and mixtures thereof, wherein the pH of the composition is about 5 to about 8, and (c) removing the liquid carrier from the biocompatible substrate to yield an implantable article with a bioactive strontium-substituted ceramic apatite coating chemically bonded to at least a portion of the surface of the biocompatible substrate.