Effect of titanium nanostructured surface on fibroblast behavior.

ABSTRACT

As the consumption of implants increases, so do the requirements for individual types of implants, for example, improved biocompatibility or longevity. Therefore, the nano-modification of the titanium surface is often chosen. The aim was to characterize the modified surface with a focus on medical applications. The titanium surface was modified by the anodic oxidation method to form nanotubes. Subsequently, the material was characterized and analyzed for medical applications-surface morphology, surface wettability, chemical composition, and release of ions into biological fluids. A human gingival fibroblasts (HGFb) cell line was used in the viability study. A homogeneous layer of nanotubes of defined dimensions was formed on the titanium surface, ensuring the material's biocompatibility-the preparation conditions influence the resulting properties of the nanostructured surface. Nanostructured titanium exhibited more suitable characteristics (e.g., wettability, roughness, ion release) for biological applications than compared to pure titanium. It was possible to understand the behavior of the modified layer on the titanium surface and its effect on cell behavior. Another contribution of this work is the combination of material characterization (ion release) with the study of cytocompatibility (direct contact of cells with metals).