Osteoblast Response to Different UVA‐Activated Anatase Implant Coatings

Abstract

AbstractThe “activation” of titanium implants by UV‐irradiation is reported to enhance osseointegration in vitro as well as in vivo. Anatase‐enriched titanium oxide surfaces enable, via photocatalysis, a chairside “activation” of implants by short‐term UVA (382 nm) irradiation. The potentially improved clinical performance of these modified surfaces depends not only on the achieved photocatalytic activity, but also on the effects caused by the micro‐ and nanostructure of the respective surface modification. In this study, three differently manufactured anatase‐coated titanium surfaces are characterized regarding surface characteristics, photocatalytic efficiency, and their ability to promote proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts in comparison to conventional sandblasted (S) and blasted/etched (S/A) titanium implant surfaces. Anatase surfaces are manufactured by suspension plasma spraying (SPS), precursor‐based liquid film coating (PLC), and physical vapor deposition (PVD). The tested surfaces exhibit significantly different surface morphologies and anatase/rutile ratios. UVA‐irradiation of samples prior to cell seeding leads to significantly improved cell proliferation and surface coverage. UVA‐treatment also leads to a generally enhanced osteoblastic differentiation of cells on all anatase‐coated surfaces. The anatase‐enriched titanium surface modifications promote different aspects of osteoblast reactions, suggesting that the “activation” of anatase‐coated titanium implants by UVA treatment is a promising chairside procedure for dental implant optimization.