Impact of plasma chemistry versus titanium surface topography on osteoblast orientation

Topographical and chemical modifications of biomaterial surfaces both influence tissue physiology, but unfortunately little knowledge exists as to their combined effect. There are many indications that rough surfaces positively influence osteoblast behavior. Having determined previously that a positively charged, smooth titanium surface boosts osteoblast adhesion, we wanted to investigate the combined effects of topography and chemistry and elucidate which of these properties is dominant. Polished, machined and corundum-blasted titanium of increasing microroughness was additionally coated with plasma-polymerized allylamine (PPAAm). Collagen I was then immobilized using polyethylene glycol diacid and glutar dialdehyde. On all PPAAm-modified surfaces (i) adhesion of human MG-63 osteoblastic cells increased significantly in combination with roughness, (ii) cells resemble the underlying structure and melt with the surface, and (iii) cells overcome the restrictions of a grooved surface and spread out over a large area as indicated by actin staining. Interestingly, the cellular effects of the plasma-chemical surface modification are predominant over surface topography, especially in the initial phase. Collagen I, although it is the gold standard, does not improve surface adhesion features comparably.