Texture-related biological properties of severely deformed titanium

Abstract

Pure titanium manufactured by hydrostatic extrusion has been investigated with the aim to find the clear origin of superior biological properties observed in the materials processed by various severe plastic deformation techniques. In so doing, physicochemical properties of the surface were characterised as well as protein adsorption tests and cell culture examinations were thoroughly carried out. It has been found that, irrespective of the grain size, the basal planes exposed to the surface favour protein adsorption, whereas it is prismatic planes that experience pronounced cell activity on the surface of hydrostatically extruded titanium substrates. Biological behaviour of severely deformed titanium-based materials should be attributed to crystallographic orientation of grains, chemical composition of the surface as well as the presence of surface irregularities in the form of various nano-peaks or nano-grooves, while the effect of grain size might be of less importance.