Abstract
Aims: Direct osteointegration of titanium and titanium alloys implants is one of the main goals of biomaterials research for dental and orthopedic applications. Chemical, mechanical or biological treatments are investigated searching for fast and durable implant to bone bonding. The aim of the present work is to assess the in vitro mineralisation capabilities and to investigate the mechanical and physico-chemical properties of a new biomimetic treatment on titanium.
Methods: The new surface treatment was obtained using Anodic Spark Deposition technique, and consists of a first ASD treatment performed in solutions containing phosphate ions followed by a second ASD treatment in a solution rich in calcium ions. The resulting surface is finally treated by alkali etching. The physio-chemical and mechanical properties of this material are analyzed and the mineralization potential is considered by surface analysis after soaking it in different solutions of simulated body fluid (SBF). As far as in vitro tests, elution cytotoxicity, cellular morphology, adhesion and viability were also assessed using an human osteoblast cell line model (MG-63).
Results: The surface modified titanium exhibited good adhesion properties, even after severe bending test and good mineralising potential, also after a few days. Also in vitro test demonstrated good attitude towards surface modified titanium.
Conclusions: The proposed biomimetic treatment was found to be very interesting in terms of speed and strength of direct implant osteointegration.
The abstracts were prepared by Ms Grazia Gliozzi. Correspondence should be addressed to her at the Italian Orthopaedic Research Society, Laboratory for Pathophysiology, Instituti Ortopedici Rizzoli, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
