Interactions between calcium, phosphate, and albumin on the surface of titanium

The deposition of calcium phosphate on chemically polished commercially pure titanium immersed in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) (concentrations 0 and 4 mg/mL) has been investigated. Electrochemical techniques, 125I labeling of albumin, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used. A tricalcium phosphate layer with a thickness of ca. 1 microm was formed for periods of immersion in HBSS ranging between 1 and 2 weeks. A concentration of 4 mg/mL of BSA prevented its formation, even for periods as long as 1 month. In the absence of BSA, the electrochemical behavior of titanium specimens was significantly affected by the length of immersion time, reflecting the changes that slowly occur on their surface. In the presence of BSA, the surfaces maintained most of their original electrochemical activity. Surface studies have shown that calcium and phosphate become incorporated in the surface at very early stages of immersion. Albumin, which was rapidly adsorbed on titanium, was slowly desorbed when titanium was placed in HBSS. Protein and phosphate may coexist on the same surface, but initially adsorbed albumin molecules prevent the precipitation of a thick layer of tricalcium phosphate.