Superiority of calcium-containing nanowires modified titanium surface compared with SLA titanium surface in biological behavior of osteoblasts: A pilot study

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to present a procedure of preparing calcium-containing nanowires on pretreated micro-structured titanium substrate and explore the superiority of this modified titanium surface compared with SLA titanium surface in biological behavior of osteoblasts. Materials and methodsIn this study, micro-structured titanium substrate was prepared via acid etching. Through hydrothermal treatment with a NaOH solution, nanowires were synthesized on the pretreated micro-structured titanium substrate to prepare the nanowires modified titanium surface (Ti-NW). Then, the Na+ existing in the nanowires was replaced by Ca2+ through secondary hydrothermal treatment with a CaCl2 solution to prepare the calcium-containing nanowires modified titanium surface (Ti-NW-Ca). The sandblasting and acid etching (SLA) titanium surface, which was most commonly used for clinical oral implants, was prepared as the control group. Physical properties of different titanium surfaces including topography, elemental composition, surface roughness and wettability were measured. Assays of spreading, proliferation and differentiation abilities of MC3T3-E1 cells on different titanium surfaces were investigated as well. ResultsThe modified titanium surface was successfully prepared and appeared as calcium-containing nanowire networks, which revealed excellent hydrophilicity and could sustainedly release Ca ions into phosphate buffer saline. The results of in vitro study showed that the Ti-NW-Ca surface had satisfactory osteocompatibility and upregulated the cell spreading, proliferation and differentiation in comparison with the SLA titanium surface. ConclusionsCompared with the SLA titanium surface, the calcium-containing nanowires modified titanium surface demonstrated the ability to enhance osteoblast behavior and suggested the potential to accelerate the dental implant osseointegration.