Laser process effects on physical texture and wetting in implantable Ti-alloys

Abstract

Wetting is an important aspect for implantable biomaterials, as it affects the initial interaction with physiological fluids, which in turn dictates the protein adsorption, cell attachment, and tissue integration at the interface. In light of this in the present overview, surface engineering techniques based on laser processing of implantable titanium alloys for improved wettability and cell compatibility is discussed. Here three different laser processing techniques, laser interference patterning, continuous wave laser direct melting, and pulsed laser direct melting and the influence of each type of processing on the micro-texture evolution are studied Finally, the effect of micro-textures on the wettability and thereby its in vitro bioactivity and in vitro biocompatibility is systematically discussed.