The effect of titanium topography features on mesenchymal human stromal cells' adhesion

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two kinds of dental implants surfaces with their own characteristics on human marrow stromal cells' adhesion.

Fifty-six titanium discs (28 machined and 28 acid etched) were used. Machined (MS) and acid-etched surfaces (ES) were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope, energy dispersing spectroscopy (EDS), contact angle analysis and human marrow stromal cells' culture.

Significant differences were observed in the topography and wetability of the tested surfaces. However, etched surfaces presented a high level of wetability when compared with machined surfaces. Contact angles showed considerable differences between etched and machined surfaces (Friedman test P<0.05). EDS analysis showed the same composition on both the surfaces tested. Counting of adhered cells on both types of surfaces showed that there is no statistical significance in human marrow stromal cells' adhesion after 18 h (Mann-Whitney test P>0.05).

The present study concludes that modifications on the titanium implant surfaces roughness may promote differences in the morphology of bone marrow stromal cells. Nevertheless, in this microenvironment, no interference in the adhesion phenomenon was noted.