Corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of a new porous surface for titanium implants

Alterations of the commercially pure titanium (cpTi) surface may be undertaken to improve its biological properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the biocompatibility of cpTi when submitted to a new, porous titanium, surface treatment (porous Ti). Five types of surface treatments, namely sintered microspheres porous titanium (porous Ti), titanium plasma spray (TPS), hydroxyapatite (HA), sandblasted and acid etched (SBAE), and resorbable blast medium, sandblasted with hydroxyapatite (RBM) were made. In the experimental methods, the corrosion potentials were measured over time, and then a linear sweep voltammetric analysis measured the polarization resistances and corrosion currents. For biocompatibility evaluation, MG63 osteoblast-like cells were used. Cell morphology, cell proliferation, total protein content, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were evaluated after 2 h, and after 2, 4 and 7 d. Porous Ti and SBAE showed a better corrosion resistance, with a weak corrosion current and a high polarization resistance, than the other surfaces. Cell attachment, cell morphology, cell proliferation, and ALP synthesis were influenced by the surface treatments, with a significant increase observed of the activity of osteoblast cells on the porous coating (porous Ti). Based on these results, it is suggested that the porous Ti surface has a significantly better biocompatibility than the other surface treatments and an excellent electrochemical performance.