The change of surface charge by lithium ion coating enhances protein adsorption on titanium

Surface charge is one of the essential physicochemical properties of titanium surfaces for extracellular protein adsorption. Titanium surfaces are generally electronegatively charged at physiological pH. Typical cellular adhesive proteins and cell membranes are also negatively charged. Therefore, there are no direct electric interactions between proteins and titanium surfaces at physiological pH. The objective of this study was to determine how different electrical charges on titanium surfaces affect protein adsorption. Commercially pure grade-2 titanium disks, 19 mm in diameter and 1.5 mm in thickness, having acid-etched micro-roughed surfaces, were prepared. Electropositive charge was supplied by soaking in LiOH solution at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 M. After LiOH treatment, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. The zeta potential, isoelectric point, and wettability of titanium surfaces were measured. The adsorption levels of proteins, including albumin, laminin, and fibronectin, were evaluated. Osteoblastic cell attachment level was also determined. Incorporation of Li was detected in the oxide layer of titanium without surface morphological modification. The zeta potential was shifted up and the isoelectric point was increased from 3.94 to 5.63 by LiOH treatment. Long-term super-hydrophilicity was also obtained on Li-treated surfaces. The adsorption of albumin and laminin increased with increasing concentration of LiOH treatment solution, whereas fibronectin adsorption was highest upon treatment with 0.25 M. The osteoblastic cell attachment level was shown to be dependent on the amount of fibronectin adsorbed. In conclusion, LiOH treatment enhances biological adhesion on titanium with an increase in surface charge and hydrophilicity. This study suggests that modifying the surface charge provides a direct protein-to-materials interaction and the optimal application of Li should be investigated further.