Osteoblastic cell response on high-rough titanium coatings by cold spray

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Surface Science
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) coatings are crucial for biomedical implants.
• Cold spray (CS) offers advantages over traditional methods like vacuum plasma spray (VPS) for oxygen-sensitive materials.
• Surface properties significantly influence implant osseointegration and biological response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To produce highly rough and porous CP-Ti coatings using cold spray technology.
• To compare the wettability and in-vitro biocompatibility of these CS coatings with sand-blasted Ti6Al4V alloy.
• To evaluate the effect of surface roughness on osteoblast behavior and mineralization.

Main Methods:

• Cold spray deposition of CP-Ti coatings.
• Surface topography analysis using confocal microscopy.
• In-vitro cell culture studies with human osteoblasts (morphology, proliferation, differentiation, mineralization).
• Contact angle measurements for wettability assessment.

Main Results:

• Cold spray successfully produced highly rough and porous CP-Ti coatings.
• As-sprayed surfaces exhibited increased hydrophilicity and improved osteoblast viability, proliferation, and differentiation.
• Higher cell attachment, proliferation, and alkaline phosphatase activity were observed on rougher CS surfaces.
• Increased calcium-rich deposit formation was noted on the highly rough surfaces after 28 days.

Conclusions:

• Cold spray is a viable method for creating biomimetic titanium surfaces.
• Increased surface roughness of CP-Ti coatings positively correlates with enhanced in-vitro biological performance.
• These findings suggest potential for improved osseointegration of cold-sprayed titanium implants.