AFM force spectroscopy of the fibrinogen adsorption process onto dental implants

Protein binding to implants is governed by the physicochemical properties of the biomaterial surface. The adhesion of a protein onto a solid surface is nonspecific. The aim of this study was to assess the adsorption process of fibrinogen at two different dental implants. The first biomaterial has a sand-blasted titanium surface, whereas the second one is covered by a calcium phosphate coating. After scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy characterization of the implant surfaces, force spectroscopy has been used to determine the unbinding force of fibrinogen adsorbed at the two different substrates. Force-measurement findings indicate that the detachment force of fibrinogen adsorbed onto both surfaces varies as a function of the interaction time. The mean strength of the unbinding forces increases with the interaction time (100 and 1,000 ms, respectively). However, experimental data suggest that fibrinogen fixes to the two studied biomaterials by different mechanisms. Moreover, it appears that, after an interaction time of 1,000 ms, the detachment force of the adsorbed protein is quite larger for the titanium surface than for the calcium phosphate coating.