Comparative molecular assessment of early osseointegration in implant-adherent cells

The objective of our study is to identify the early molecular processes involved in osseointegration associated with a micro roughened and nanosurface superimposed featured implants.

Thirty-two titanium implants with surface topographies exhibiting a micro roughened (AT-II) and nanosurface superimposed featured implants (AT-I) were placed in the tibiae of 8 rats and subsequently harvested at 2 and 4 days after placement. Total RNA was isolated from cells adherent to retrieved implants. A whole genome microarray using the Affymetrix Rat Gene 1.1 ST Array followed by validation of select genes through qRT-PCR was used to describe the gene expression profiles that were differentially regulated by the implant surfaces.

While significant differences at the gene level were not noted when comparing the two-implant surfaces at each time point, the microarray identified several genes that were differentially regulated at day 4 vs. day 2 for both implant surfaces. A total of 649 genes were differentially regulated at day 4 vs. day 2 in AT-I and 392 genes in AT-II implants. Functionally relevant categories related to ossification, skeletal system development, osteoblast differentiation, bone development, bone mineralization and biomineral tissue development were upregulated and more prominent at AT-I (day 4 vs. day 2) compared to AT-II. Analysis of the downregulated gene lists (day 4 vs. day 2) with average fold change >2 (were not statistically significant) revealed the biological processes involved with the inflammatory/immune response gene expression. The number of genes that were associated with the inflammatory/immune response category was greater for AT-I than AT-II.

The presence of nanosurface features modulated in vivo bone response. Gene regulation implicating osteogenesis as well as the inflammatory/immune responses that occur as a function of surface topography may affect bone mass shortly after implant placement.