The two step nanotube formation on TiZr as scaffolds for cell growth

Various TiO2 nanotubes on Ti50Zr alloy have been fabricated via a two step anodization method in glycol with 15vol.% H2O and 0.2M NH4F under anodization controlled voltages of 15, 30 and 45V. A new sonication treatment in deionized water with three steps and total sonication time as 1min was performed after the first anodization step in order to remove the oxide layer grown during 2h. The second step of anodization was for 1h and took place at the same conditions. The role of removed layer as a nano-prepatterned surface was evidenced in the formation of highly ordered nanotubular structures and morphological features were analyzed by SEM, AFM and surface wettability. The voltage-controlled anodization leads to various nanoarhitectures, with diameters in between 20 and 80nm. As biological assay, cell culture tests with MG63 cell line originally derived from a human osteosarcoma were performed. A correlation between nanostructure morphological properties as a result of voltage-controlled anodization and cell response was established.