Effect of three distinct treatments of titanium surface on osteoblast attachment, proliferation, and differentiation

Cell-titanium interactions are crucial to the clinical success of bone and dental implants. The physico-chemical characteristics of the substrates surface influence osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and activity as well. The osteoblast behavior was analyzed on three different titanium surfaces: ground with an abrasive 600 grit SiC paper, blasted with alumina particles (65 microm diameter) and alumina blasted followed by a double chemical etch (4% HF+4% HF/8% H2O2). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and profilometry showed distinct microtopographies. Ground samples showed parallel-groove orientation. The Al2O3-blasted surface presented the roughest microtopography with aluminum-rich particles incrusted in the titanium surface. Osteoblasts cells from femora of Balb/c mice were seeded onto the substrates tested. Cell morphology and initial attachment were evaluated by SEM. Osteoblasts adhered to and spread on all samples tested. However, on rough surfaces, osteoblasts did not spread completely and acquired a polygonal morphology. Besides, the cell proliferation rate was diminished at the beginning of incubation on rough surfaces. Our results suggest a delay, rather than an impairment, in osteoblast viability and alkaline phosphatase activity when cells are cultured on rough surfaces, inducing a distinct osteoblast phenotype, rather than blocking its activity. At least in the culture conditions used in this work, alumina particles did not affect osteoblast behavior.