Preparation of Bioactive Titanium Surfaces via Fluoride and Fibronectin Retention

Carlos Nelson Elias,Patricia Abdo Gravina,Pedro Augusto De Paula Nascente,Costa E Silva Filho

doi:10.1155/2012/290179

Abstract

Statement of Problem. The chemical or topographic modification of the dental implant surface can affect bone healing, promote accelerated osteogenesis, and increase bone-implant contact and bonding strength. Objective. In this work, the effects of dental implant surface treatment and fibronectin adsorption on the adhesion of osteoblasts were analyzed. Materials and Methods. Two titanium dental implants (Porous-acid etching and PorousNano-acid etching followed by fluoride ion modification) were characterized by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction before and after the incorporation of human plasma fibronectin (FN). The objective was to investigate the biofunctionalization of these surfaces and examine their effects on the interaction with osteoblastic cells. Results. The evaluation techniques used showed that the Porous and PorousNano implants have similar microstructural characteristics. Spectrophotometry demonstrated similar levels of fibronectin adsorption on both surfaces (80%). The association indexes of osteoblastic cells in FN-treated samples were significantly higher than those in samples without FN. The radioactivity values associated with the same samples, expressed as counts per minute (cpm), suggested that FN incorporation is an important determinant of the in vitro cytocompatibility of the surfaces. Conclusion. The preparation of bioactive titanium surfaces via fluoride and FN retention proved to be a useful treatment to optimize and to accelerate the osseointegration process for dental implants.

Highlights

The phenomenon of endosseous implant osseointegration, conceptualized by Branemark as the “direct, structural and functional link between the living and orderly bone and the surface of an implant subjected to functional loads” [1], is fundamental to the success of dental implant applications
The results showed no quantitative differences in the interaction of human osteoblastic cells (HOB) to different coatings, but qualitative differences were observed; osteoblasts adhered to each of the substrates in very different ways
Samples were submitted to surface treatment and divided into four groups: Porous: samples treated in acidic solutions containing HNO3, H2SO4, and HCl; PorousNano: treatment similar to Group 1 followed by fluoride ion modification by immersion for one hour in a solution containing fluorine ions; Porous-FN: treatment similar to Group 1 with FN incorporation; PorousNano-FN: treatment similar to Group 2 with FN incorporation

Summary

Introduction

The phenomenon of endosseous implant osseointegration, conceptualized by Branemark as the “direct, structural and functional link between the living and orderly bone and the surface of an implant subjected to functional loads” [1], is fundamental to the success of dental implant applications. Ti exposed to oxidizing agents spontaneously forms a 10-100 Athick titanium oxide layer. This layer is stable in most media, especially under physiological conditions, and, surgically, it shows no change in thickness or corrosion. This ensures implant-bone tissue interaction and osseointegration [2]. The dental implant surface treatment should induce the differentiation of the desired cells [3]. Surface treatments of available implants promote changes in the mechanical, microstructural, and physical properties, as well as the wettability, energy, chemical composition, and density of chemical groups or molecules on the surface [2, 4]

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Discussion

Conclusion