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M Wieland

Publications and source records attributed to M Wieland.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Enhancing surface free energy and hydrophilicity through chemical modification of microstructured titanium implant surfaces.

Roughness-induced hydrophobicity, well-known from natural plant surfaces and intensively studied toward superhydrophobic surfaces, has currently been identified on microstructured titanium implant surfaces. Studies indicate that microstructuring by sandblasting and acid etching (SLA) enhances the osteogenic properties of titanium. The undesired initial hydrophobicity, however, presumably decelerates primary interactions with the aqueous biosystem. To improve the initial wettability and to retain SLA microstructure, a novel surface modification was tested. This modification differs from SLA by its preparation after acid etching, which was done under protective gas conditions following liquid instead of dry storage. We hypothesized that this modification should have increased wettability due to the prevention of contaminations that occurs during air contact. The main outcome of dynamic wettability measurements was that the novel modification shows increased surface free energy (SFE) and increased hydrophilicity with initial water contact angles of 0 degrees compared to 139.9 degrees for SLA. This hydrophilization was kept even after any drying. Reduced hydrocarbon contaminations were identified to play a possible role in altered surface thermodynamics. Such surfaces aim to retain the hydrophilicity and natural high surface energy of the Ti dioxide surface until surgical implants' insertion and are compared in this in vitro study with structural surface variants of titanium to compare roughness and chemically induced wettability.

Acids↗

Biomechanical evaluation of the interfacial strength of a chemically modified sandblasted and acid-etched titanium surface.

The functional capacity of osseointegrated dental implants to bear load is largely dependent on the quality of the interface between the bone and implant. Sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) surfaces have been previously shown to enhance bone apposition. In this study, the SLA has been compared with a chemically modified SLA (modSLA) surface. The increased wettability of the modSLA surface in a protein solution was verified by dynamic contact angle analysis. Using a well-established animal model with a split-mouth experimental design, implant removal torque testing was performed to determine the biomechanical properties of the bone-implant interface. All implants had an identical cylindrical shape with a standard thread configuration. Removal torque testing was performed after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of bone healing (n = 9 animals per healing period, three implants per surface type per animal) to evaluate the interfacial shear strength of each surface type. Results showed that the modSLA surface was more effective in enhancing the interfacial shear strength of implants in comparison with the conventional SLA surface during early stages of bone healing. Removal torque values of the modSLA-surfaced implants were 8-21% higher than those of the SLA implants (p = 0.003). The mean removal torque values for the modSLA implants were 1.485 N m at 2 weeks, 1.709 N m at 4 weeks, and 1.345 N m at 8 weeks; and correspondingly, 1.231 N m, 1.585 N m, and 1.143 N m for the SLA implants. The bone-implant interfacial stiffness calculated from the torque-rotation curve was on average 9-14% higher for the modSLA implants when compared with the SLA implants (p = 0.038). It can be concluded that the modSLA surface achieves a better bone anchorage during early stages of bone healing than the SLA surface; chemical modification of the standard SLA surface likely enhances bone apposition and this has a beneficial effect on the interfacial shear strength.

Biocompatible Materials↗

High surface energy enhances cell response to titanium substrate microstructure.

Titanium (Ti) is used for implantable devices because of its biocompatible oxide surface layer. TiO2 surfaces that have a complex microtopography increase bone-to-implant contact and removal torque forces in vivo and induce osteoblast differentiation in vitro. Studies examining osteoblast response to controlled surface chemistries indicate that hydrophilic surfaces are osteogenic, but TiO2 surfaces produced until now exhibit low surface energy because of adsorbed hydrocarbons and carbonates from the ambient atmosphere or roughness induced hydrophobicity. Novel hydroxylated/hydrated Ti surfaces were used to retain high surface energy of TiO2. Osteoblasts grown on this modified surface exhibited a more differentiated phenotype characterized by increased alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin and generated an osteogenic microenvironment through higher production of PGE2 and TGF-beta1. Moreover, 1alpha,25OH2D3 increased these effects in a manner that was synergistic with high surface energy. This suggests that increased bone formation observed on modified Ti surfaces in vivo is due in part to stimulatory effects of high surface energy on osteoblasts.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Differential regulation of osteoblasts by substrate microstructural features.

Microtextured titanium implant surfaces enhance bone formation in vivo and osteoblast phenotypic expression in vitro, but the mechanisms are not understood. To determine the roles of specific microarchitectural features in modulating osteoblast behavior, we used Ti surfaces prepared by electrochemical micromachining as substrates for MG63 osteoblast-like cell culture. Cell response was compared to tissue culture plastic, a sand-blasted with large grit and acid-etched surface with defined mixed microtopography (SLA), polished Ti surfaces, and polished surfaces electrochemically machined through a photoresist pattern to produce cavities with 100, 30 and 10 microm diameters arranged so that the ratio of the microscopic-scale area of the cavities versus the microscopic-scale area of the flat region between the cavities was equal to 1 or 6. Microstructured disks were acid-etched, producing overall sub-micron-scale roughness (Ra=0.7 microm). Cell number, differentiation (alkaline phosphatase; osteocalcin) and local factor levels (TGF-beta1; PGE(2)) varied with microarchitecture. 100 microm cavities favored osteoblast attachment and growth, the sub-micron-scale etch enhanced differentiation and TGF-beta1 production, whereas PGE(2) depended on cavity dimensions but not the sub-micron-scale roughness.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Toward time-resolved soft X-ray microscopy using pulsed fs-high-harmonic radiation.

Coherent soft X-ray sources open the way to new capabilities in high-resolution imaging, site- and element-specific spectroscopy and biomicroscopy. In this paper we demonstrate imaging with a table-top soft X-ray microscope. By combining a laser driven high-harmonic light source, optimized for having the maximum brightness at around 100 eV, a pair of multilayer mirrors to select a narrow spectral band and acting simultaneously as a condenser and a Fresnel zone plate as microscope objective, we were able to resolve 200 nm structures of a diatom sample. Further, the pulsed nature of our X-ray source offers the possibility of time-resolved spectromicroscopy with a temporal resolution in the order of a few femtoseconds.

Animals↗

Microrough implant surface topographies increase osteogenesis by reducing osteoclast formation and activity.

Titanium implant surfaces with rough microtopographies exhibit increased pullout strength in vivo suggesting increased bone-to-implant contact. This is supported by in vitro studies showing that as surface microroughness increases, osteoblast proliferation decreases whereas differentiation increases. Differentiation is further enhanced on microrough surfaces by factors stimulating osteogenesis including 1alpha,25(OH)2D3. Levels of PGE2 and TGF-beta1 are increased in cultures grown on rough microtopographies; this surface effect is enhanced synergistically by 1alpha,25(OH)2D3-treatment. PGE2 and TGF-beta1 regulate osteoclasts as well as osteoblasts, suggesting that surface microtopography may modulate release of other factors from osteoblasts that regulate osteoclasts. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of substrate microarchitecture on production of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), which have been identified as a key regulatory system of bone remodeling. We also examined the production of 1alpha,25(OH)2D3, which regulates osteoblast differentiation and osteoclastogenesis. MG63 osteoblast-like cells were grown on either tissue culture plastic or titanium disks of different surface microtopographies: PT (Ra < 0.2 microm), SLA (Ra = 4 microm), and TPS (Ra = 5 microm). At confluence, cultures were treated for 24 h with 0, 10(-8) M or 10(-7) M 1alpha,25(OH)2D3. RANKL and OPG were determined at the transcriptional level by RT-PCR and real time PCR and soluble RANKL, OPG and 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 in the conditioned media were measured using immunoassay kits. Cell number was reduced on SLA and TPS surfaces and 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 caused further decreases. OPG mRNA levels increased on rougher surfaces and 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 treatment caused a further synergistic increase. While the cells expressed RANKL mRNA, levels were low and independent of surface microtopography. OPG protein was greater when cells were grown on SLA and TPS. 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 increased OPG by 50% on the smooth Ti surface but on SLA, 10(-8) M 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 caused a 100% increase and 10(-7) M 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 increased OPG by 200%. On TPS 10(-7) M 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 increased OPG 350%. Soluble RANKL was not detected in the conditioned media of any of the cultures. 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 was produced endogenously and levels were positively correlated with surface roughness. Thus, on surfaces with rough microtopographies, osteoblasts secrete factors that enhance osteoblast differentiation while decreasing osteoclast formation and activity.

Animals↗

RGD-containing peptide GCRGYGRGDSPG reduces enhancement of osteoblast differentiation by poly(L-lysine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol)-coated titanium surfaces.

Osteoblasts exhibit a more differentiated morphology on surfaces with rough microtopographies. Surface effects are often mediated through integrins that bind the RGD motif in cell attachment proteins. Here, we tested the hypothesis that modulating access to RGD binding sites can modify the response of osteoblasts to surface microtopography. MG63 immature osteoblast-like cells were cultured on smooth (Ti sputter-coated Si wafers) and rough (grit blasted/acid etched) Ti surfaces that were modified with adsorbed monomolecular layers of a comb-like graft copolymer, poly-(L-lysine)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG), to limit nonspecific protein adsorption. PLL-g-PEG coatings were functionalized with varying amounts of an integrin-receptor-binding RGD peptide GCRGYGRGDSPG (PLL-g-PEG/PEG-RGD) or a nonbinding RDG control sequence GCRGYGRDGSPG (PLL-g-PEG/PEG-RDG). Response to PLL-g-PEG alone was compared with response to surfaces on which 2-18% of the polymer sidechains were functionalized with the RGD peptide or the RDG peptide. To examine RGD dose-response, peptide surface concentration was varied between 0 and 6.4 pmol/cm(2). In addition, cells were cultured on uncoated Ti or Ti coated with PLL-g-PEG or PLL-g-PEG/PEG-RGD at an RGD surface concentration of 0.7 pmol/cm(2), and free RGDS was added to the media to block integrin binding. Analyses were performed 24 h after cultures had achieved confluence on the tissue culture plastic surface. Cell number was reduced on smooth Ti compared to plastic or glass and further decreased on surfaces coated with PLL-g-PEG or PLL-g-PEG/PEG-RDG, but was restored to control levels when PLL-g-PEG/PEG-RGD was present. Alkaline phosphatase specific activity and osteocalcin levels were increased on PLL-g-PEG alone or PLL-g-PEG/PEG-RDG, but PLL-g-PEG/PEG-RGD reduced the parameters to control levels. On rough Ti surfaces, cell number was reduced to a greater extent than on smooth Ti. PLL-g-PEG coatings reduced alkaline phosphatase and increased osteocalcin in a manner that was synergistic with surface roughness. The RDG peptide did not alter the PLL-g-PEG effect but the RGD peptide restored these markers to their control levels. PLL-g-PEG coatings also increased TGF-beta1 and PGE(2) in conditioned media of cells cultured on smooth or rough Ti; there was a 20x increase on rough Ti coated with PLL-g-PEG. PLL-g-PEG effects were inhibited dose dependently by addition of the RGD peptide to the surface. Free RGDS did not decrease the effect elicited by PLL-g-PEG surfaces. These unexpected results suggest that PLL-g-PEG may have osteogenic properties, perhaps correlated with effects that alter cell attachment and spreading, and promote a more differentiated morphology.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Time-dependent morphology and adhesion of osteoblastic cells on titanium model surfaces featuring scale-resolved topography.

The role of micrometer and submicrometer surface roughness on the interaction of cells with titanium model surfaces of well-defined topography was investigated using human bone-derived cells (MG63 cells). The early phase of interactions was studied using a kinetic morphological analysis of adhesion, spreading and proliferation of the cells. By SEM and double immunofluorescent labeling of vinculin and actin, it was found that the cells responded to nanoscale roughness by a higher cell thickness and a delayed apparition of the focal contacts. A singular behavior was observed on nanoporous oxide surfaces, where the cells were more spread and displayed longer and more numerous filopods. On electrochemically microstructured surfaces with hemispherical cavities, arranged in a hexagonal pattern, the MG63 cells were able to go inside, adhere and proliferate in cavities of 30 or 100 microm in diameter, whereas they did not recognize the 10 microm diameter cavities. Cells adopted a 3D shape when attaching inside the 30 microm diameter cavities. Condensation of actin cytoskeleton correlated with vinculin-positive focal contacts on cavity edges were observed on all microstructured surfaces. Nanotopography on surfaces with 30 microm diameter cavities had little effect on cell morphology compared to flat surfaces with same nanostructure, but cell proliferation exhibited a marked synergistic effect of microscale and nanoscale topography.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Staphylococcus aureus adhesion to titanium oxide surfaces coated with non-functionalized and peptide-functionalized poly(L-lysine)-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers.

Implanted biomaterials are coated immediately with host plasma constituents, including extracellular matrix (ECM); this reaction may be undesirable in some cases. Poly(L-lysine)-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG) has been shown to spontaneously adsorb from aqueous solution onto metal oxide surfaces, effectively reducing the degree of non-specific adsorption of blood and ECM proteins, and decreasing the adhesion of fibroblastic and osteoblastic cells to the coated surfaces. Cell adhesion through specific peptide-integrin receptors could be restored on surfaces coated with PLL-g-PEG functionalized with peptides of the RGD (Arg-Asp-Gly) type. To date, no study has examined the effect of surface modifications by PLL-g-PEG-based polymers on bacterial adhesion. The ability of Staphylococcus aureus to adhere to the ECM and plasma proteins deposited on biomaterials is a significant factor in the pathogenesis of medical-device-related infections. This study describes methods for visualizing and quantifying the adhesion of S. aureus to smooth and rough (chemically etched) titanium surfaces without and with monomolecular coatings of PLL-g-PEG, PLL-g-PEG/PEG-RGD and PLL-g-PEG/PEG-RDG. The different surfaces were exposed to S. aureus cultures for 1-24h and bacteria surface density was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Coating titanium surfaces with any of the three types of copolymers significantly decreased the adhesion of S. aureus to the surfaces by 89-93% for PLL-g-PEG, and 69% for PLL-g-PEG/PEG-RGD. Therefore, surfaces coated with PLL-g-PEG/PEG-RGD have the ability to attach cells such as fibroblasts and osteoblasts while showing reduced S. aureus adhesion, resulting in a selective biointeraction pattern that may be useful for applications in the area of osteosynthesis, orthopaedic and dental implantology.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Enhanced bone apposition to a chemically modified SLA titanium surface.

Increased surface roughness of dental implants has demonstrated greater bone apposition; however, the effect of modifying surface chemistry remains unknown. In the present study, we evaluated bone apposition to a modified sandblasted/acid-etched (modSLA) titanium surface, as compared with a standard SLA surface, during early stages of bone regeneration. Experimental implants were placed in miniature pigs, creating 2 circular bone defects. Test and control implants had the same topography, but differed in surface chemistry. We created the test surface by submerging the implant in an isotonic NaCl solution following acid-etching to avoid contamination with molecules from the atmosphere. Test implants demonstrated a significantly greater mean percentage of bone-implant contact as compared with controls at 2 (49.30 vs. 29.42%; p = 0.017) and 4 wks (81.91 vs. 66.57%; p = 0.011) of healing. At 8 wks, similar results were observed. It is concluded that the modSLA surface promoted enhanced bone apposition during early stages of bone regeneration.

Animals↗

Steering attosecond electron wave packets with light.

Photoelectrons excited by extreme ultraviolet or x-ray photons in the presence of a strong laser field generally suffer a spread of their energies due to the absorption and emission of laser photons. We demonstrate that if the emitted electron wave packet is temporally confined to a small fraction of the oscillation period of the interacting light wave, its energy spectrum can be up- or downshifted by many times the laser photon energy without substantial broadening. The light wave can accelerate or decelerate the electron's drift velocity, i.e., steer the electron wave packet like a classical particle. This capability strictly relies on a sub-femtosecond duration of the ionizing x-ray pulse and on its timing to the phase of the light wave with a similar accuracy, offering a simple and potentially single-shot diagnostic tool for attosecond pump-probe spectroscopy.

Journal Article↗

Comparative investigation of the surface properties of commercial titanium dental implants. Part I: chemical composition.

The surfaces of five commercially available titanium implants (Brånemark Nobel Biocare, 3i ICE, 3i OSSEOTITE, ITI-TPS, and ITI-SLA) were compared by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy. All five implant types were screw-shaped and fabricated from commercially pure (cp) titanium, but their surface properties differed both as regards surface morphology and surface chemical composition. The macro- and microstructure of the implant surfaces were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The surfaces chemical composition was determined using the surface-sensitive analytical techniques of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion spectrometry. Surface topographies were found to reflect the type of mechanical/chemical fabrication procedures applied by the manufacturers. The titanium oxide (passive) layer thickness was similar (5-6 nm) and typical for oxide films grown at or near room temperature. A variety of elements and chemical compounds not related to the metal composition were found on some implant types. They ranged from inorganic material such as sodium chloride to specific organic compounds believed to be due to contamination during fabrication or storage. The experimental findings are believed to make a contribution to a better understanding of the interplay between industrial fabrication procedure and physico-chemical implant surface properties.

Journal Article↗

Caenorhabditis elegans as an environmental monitor using DNA microarray analysis.

In order to assist in the identification of possible endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) in groundwater, we are developing Caenorhabolitis elegans as a high throughput bioassay system in which responses to EDC may be detected by gene expression using DNA microarray analysis. As a first step we examined gene expression patterns and vitellogenin responses of this organism to vertebrate steroids, in liquid culture. Western blotting showed the expected number and size of vitellogenin translation products after estrogen exposure. At 10(-9) M, vitellogenin decreased, but at 10(-7) and 10(-5), vitellogenin was increased. Testosterone (10(-5) M) increased the synthesis of vitellogenin, but progesterone-treated cultures (10(-5) M) had less vitellogenin. Using DNA microarray analysis, we examined the pattern of gene expression after progesterone (10(-5), 10(-7), and 10(-9) M), estrogen (10(-5) M), and testosterone (10(-9) M) exposure, with special attention to the traditional biomarker genes used in environmental studies [vitellogenin, cytochrome P450 (CYP), glutathione s-transferase (GST), metallothionein (MT), and heat shock proteins (HSP)]. GST and P450 genes were affected by estrogen (10(-5) M) and progesterone (10(-5) and 10(-7) M) treatments. For vitellogenin genes, estrogen treatment (10(-5) M) caused overexpression of the vit-2 and vit-6 genes (2.68 and 3.25 times, respectively). After progesterone treatment (10(-7) M), the vit-5 and vit-6 were down-regulated and vit-1 up-regulated (3.59-fold). Concentrations of testosterone and progesterone at 10(-9) M did not influence the expression of the vit, CYP, or GST genes. Although the analysis is incomplete, and low doses and combinations of EDC need to be tested, these preliminary results indicate C. elegans may be a useful laboratory and field model for screening EDC.

Animals↗

Advantages of stereo imaging of metallic surfaces with low voltage backscattered electrons in a field emission scanning electron microscope

High emission current backscattered electron (HC-BSE) stereo imaging at low accelerating voltages (</= 5 keV) using a field emission scanning electron microscope was used to display surface structure detail. Samples of titanium with high degrees of surface roughness, for potential medical implant applications, were imaged using the HC-BSE technique at two stage tilts of + 3 degrees and - 3 degrees out of the initial position. A digital stereo image was produced and qualitative height, depth and orientation information on the surface structures was observed. HC-BSE and secondary electron (SE) images were collected over a range of accelerating voltages. The low voltage SE and HC-BSE stereo images exhibited enhanced surface detail and contrast in comparison to high voltage (> 10 keV) BSE or SE stereo images. The low voltage HC-BSE stereo images displayed similar surface detail to the low voltage SE images, although they showed more contrast and directional sensitivity on surface structures. At or below 5 keV, only structures a very short distance into the metallic surface were observed. At higher accelerating voltages a greater appearance of depth could be seen but there was less information on the fine surface detail and its angular orientation. The combined technique of HC-BSE imaging and stereo imaging should be useful for detailed studies on material surfaces and for biological samples with greater contrast and directional sensitivity than can be obtained with current SE or BSE detection modes.

Journal Article↗

Osteoblast proliferation and differentiation on dentin slices are modulated by pretreatment of the surface with tetracycline or osteoclasts.

BACKGROUND: Implant surface roughness and chemical composition, as well as other factors, affect the ability of osteogenic cells to form bone adjacent to an implant. The same principles may also apply to the tooth root and some reports have shown that surface modification of the root may lead to improved restoration of the periodontal apparatus. The most common of these surface modification techniques involves demineralization with citric acid or treatment with tetracycline to expose collagen fibrils. In addition, during normal bone remodeling, osteoclasts demineralize the extracellular matrix, leaving resorption pits and exposed collagen fibrils. In this study, the effect of different dentin surface-preparation techniques on osteoblasts were compared. METHODS: Slices of sperm whale dentin were mechanically polished and surfaces were treated with tetracycline-HCl (TCN) or were cultured with mouse bone marrow cells to create a surface with osteoclast (OC) resorption pits or left untreated. Profilometry, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to evaluate the 3 different dentin surfaces. MG63 osteoblast-like cells were cultured on the 3 different surfaces and the effect of dentin surface preparation technique on MG63 cell proliferation (cell number), differentiaton (alkaline phosphatase specific activity of isolated cells and cell layer lysates; osteocalcin production), and local factor production (transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) compared. RESULTS: Profilometry showed the polished and TCN surfaces were smooth with comparable Ra values, whereas the OC surfaces were slightly rougher due to resorption pits which covered 3.7% of the surface. XPS measurements showed that TCN treatment reduced the Ca and P content of the surface, indicating that it had dissolved the mineral. Osteoclast-resorption also reduced the Ca and P content, but to a lesser extent. MG63 cell proliferation on polished dentin and tissue culture polystyrene was equivalent. In contrast, cells grown on the TCN- and OC-treated surfaces exhibited increased proliferation. No effect of surface treatment on cell alkaline phosphatase activity was observed, but activity in the cell layer lysates was increased on the TCN- and OC-treated surfaces. Osteocalcin production was reduced on all dentin surfaces, but the greatest reduction was found on the TCN-treated surface. Production of both TGF-beta1 and PGE2 was increased on the treated surfaces. All effects were greatest in cultures grown on the TCN-treated dentin. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that demineralization of the dentin surface promotes proliferation of osteoblasts and early differentiation events like production of alkaline phosphatase and autocrine mediators such as PGE2 and TGF-beta1. However, later differentiation events like osteocalcin production are decreased. Osteoclast-mediated bone resorption elicits similar responses; less than 4% of the dentin surface resulted in approximately 75% of the response caused by TCN treatment. These observations suggest that greater attention should be paid to the effects of osteoclastic resorption in designing methods for enhancing bone and cementum formation adjacent to root surfaces.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Surface characterization of implant materials c.p. Ti, Ti-6Al-7Nb and Ti-6Al-4V with different pretreatments.

The biocompatibility of commercially pure titanium and its alloys is closely related to their surface properties, with both the composition of the protecting oxide film and the surface topography playing an important role. Surfaces of commercially pure titanium and of the two alloys Ti-6Al-7Nb and Ti-6Al-4V (wt %) have been investigated following three different pretreatments: polishing, nitric acid passivation and pickling in nitric acid-hydrogen fluoride. Nitric acid treatment is found to substantially reduce the concentration of surface contaminants present after polishing. The natural 4-6 nm thick oxide layer on commercially pure titanium is composed of titanium oxide in different oxidation states (TiO2, Ti2O3 and TiO), while for the alloys, aluminium and niobium or vanadium are additionally present in oxidized form (Al2O3, Nb2O5 or V-oxides). The concentrations of the alloying elements at the surface are shown to be strongly dependent on the pretreatment process. While pickling increases the surface roughness of both commercially pure titanium and the alloys, different mechanisms appear to be involved. In the case of commercially pure titanium, the dissolution rate depends on grain orientation, whereas in the case of the two alloys, selective alpha-phase dissolution and enrichment of the beta-phase appears to occur.

Journal Article↗

Immobilization of the cell-adhesive peptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Cys (RGDC) on titanium surfaces by covalent chemical attachment.

Surface modification of acid-pretreated titanium with 3-aminopropyltriethoxylsilane (APTES) in dry toluene resulted in covalently bonded siloxane films with surface coverage that was relatively controllable by regulating the reaction conditions. A hetero-bifunctional cross-linker, N-succinimidyl-3-maleimidopropionate (SMP), reacted with the terminal amino groups, forming the exposed maleimide groups. Finally, a model cell-binding peptide, Arg-Gly-Asp-Cys (RGDC), was immobilized on the surface through covalent addition of the cysteine thiol groups to the maleimide groups. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, radiolabelling techniques, and ellipsometry were used to quantify and characterize the modified surfaces.

Journal Article↗