Surface Characterization and In Vitro Performance of Bioactive-Treated Titanium Dental Implants with Enhanced Osseointegration

Abstract

Surface properties of dental implant materials, whether they are physical, chemical, mechanical,or biological, influence the processes of osseointegration and the development of the biologicalseal at the implant-soft tissue interface. In turn, successful occurrence of these steps preventsperi-implant diseases. This goal can be achieved through the application of surface treatments ofa bioactive nature leading to an effective implant-bone union. Our work focuses on a thoroughcharacterization of bioactive surface properties obtained through alkaline treatment on twodifferent surfaces used in the dental implant industry, namely, a surface blasted with calciumphosphate particles and a micro-arc anodized surface. The results show that the alkalinetreatment modifies the surface properties of both blasted and anodized samples. Modification isrelated to the formation of a nanoporous amorphous sodium titanate hydrogel that exhibitshigh bioactivity in an SBF medium. To assess in vitro biocompatibility and bioactivity, a48-hour cell culture assay was conducted using dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells. All samplesdemonstrated cell adhesion, growth, and intercellular communication, indicating that thesurfaces are biocompatible and non-cytotoxic. However, samples subjected to alkalinetreatment exhibited qualitatively superior bioactivity and in vitro behavior and among them,the blasted sample produced the surface with best performance.