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Cell culture tests for assessing the tolerance of soft tissue to variously modified titanium surfaces.

The aim of our research project was to achieve an improvement in the integration of enossal dental implants in the region of peri-implantary soft tissue. Improvement in the adhesion of the gingiva of the surface of enossal implants was to be achieved by modification of the titanium surface. The effect of different modifications on the biocompatibility of the modified titanium surfaces was tested: sulfur dioxide plasma treatment of titanium; acetylene plasma treatment of titanium followed by sulfur dioxide plasma etching; plasma nitration of titanium; replacement of titanium by glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy silane; coating titanium with poly[(ethene-co-vinyl acetate)-graft-vinyl chloride] and coating titanium with fibronectin. Determination of the chemical composition of the surface was carried out using X-ray photospectroscopy. The adsorption of fibronectin at the surface of the titanium was tested using an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. In selected in vitro tests with human gingival fibroblasts, cell morphology was assessed using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Cell proliferation and protein synthesis, as well as the activity of mitochondrial dehydrogenases were evaluated. By means of centrifugation and by determining initial cell adhesion, the adhesion of gingival fibroblasts was investigated. According to the kind of modification made to the titanium surfaces, it was possible to observe differences in the cellular behavior of gingiva fibroblasts on the differently modified surfaces of the implants. Coating the titanium using fibronectin produced optimization of cell growth and improvement in the adhesion of gingiva fibroblasts to the implant surface. In contrast, modification of the titanium with poly[(ethene-co-vinyl acetate)-graft-vinyl chloride] generally resulted in a deterioration of the biocompatibility of the surface. A marked correlation between the cellular compatibility of the modified titanium and the surface modification made did not become apparent. One reason for this is the large number of parameters determining the interaction between implant and tissue.

Cell Adhesion↗

Effectiveness of transfixation and length of instrumentation on titanium and stainless steel transpedicular spine implants.

This study compares the effectiveness of transfixation on the stiffness of two pedicle screw-rod constructs of different manufacture, implant design, and alloy, applied in one-and two-level instability. Four screws composed of either stainless steel or Titanium were assembled in pairs to two polymethylmethacrylate blocks to resemble one-and two-level corpectomy models and the construct underwent nondestructive torsional, extension, and flexion loading. In every loading test, each construct was tested using stainless steel or titanium rods of 4.9-mm diameter in two different lengths (short, 10 cm; long, 15 cm), not augmented or augmented with different transfixation devices or a pair of devices. The authors compared the stiffness of stainless steel and titanium constructs without cross-link with the stiffness of that reinforced with single or double Texas Scottish Rite Hospital (TSRH) cross-link, closed new-type cross-link (closed NTC), or open new-type cross-link (open NTC). The results showed that augmentation or no augmentation of short rods conferred significantly more stiffness than that of long rods of the same material in all three loading modes. The closed NTC provided the greatest increase of torsional, extension, and flexion stiffness, and single TSRH provided the least amount of stiffness. Torsional stiffness of short stainless steel rods augmented or not augmented was significantly greater than that of their titanium counterparts. Torsional stiffness of long titanium rods was always greater than that of their stainless steel counterparts. Extension stiffness of short nonaugmented titanium rods was superior to that of long titanium rods, whereas extension stiffness of nonaugmented short and long stainless steel rods was similar. Nonaugmented short titanium rods showed greater flexion stiffness than that of long titanium rods. Long stainless steel rods displayed significantly greater flexion stiffness than did their titanium counterparts. This nondestructive study showed that cross-links increase the torsional stiffness significantly but less so the flexion and extension stiffness of both titanium and stainless steel posterior transpedicular constructs. This increase was proportional to the cross-sectional diameter of the cross-link. Titanium constructs showed more torsional stiffness when used in two-level instability and steel showed more torsional stiffness in one-level instability, particularly when they are reinforced. Stainless steel constructs showed greater flexion stiffness when they were used in two-level and titanium showed greater flexion stiffness in one-level instability, particularly when they were reinforced with stiff cross-links. The effect of transfixation on extension forces was obvious when thick cross-links were used.

Alloys↗

Amount of hydroxyl radical on calcium-ion-implanted titanium and point of zero charge of constituent oxide of the surface-modified layer.

To compare the surface properties of calcium-ion (Ca2+)-implanted titanium with those of titanium and to investigate the mechanism of bone conductivity of Ca2+-implanted titanium, amounts of hydroxyl radical of Ca2+-implanted titanium and titanium were estimated. Also, the point of zero charge (p.z.c.) of oxide constituting surface oxides of Ca2+-implanted titanium and titanium was determined. Results showed that the amount of active hydroxyl radical on Ca2+-implanted titanium was found to be significantly larger than that on titanium, indicating that the number of electric-charging sites of Ca2+-implanted titanium in electrolyte is more than that of titanium. The p.z.c. values of rutile (TiO2), anatase (TiO2), and perovskite (CaTiO3), were estimated to be 4.6, 5.9, and 8.1, respectively. Thus, Ca2+-implanted titanium surface is charged more positively in bioliquid than titanium, accelerating the adsorption of phosphate ions.

Journal Article↗

Glycosaminoglycan degradation reduces mineralized tissue-titanium interfacial strength.

Although the localization of the proteoglycan/glycosaminoglycan (GAG) complex at the bone-titanium implant interface has been implied, the role of proteoglycans on the establishment of bone-titanium integration is unknown. The hypothesis to be tested was that proteoglycans play an important role in establishing bone-titanium interfacial adhesion. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of proteoglycan knockdown by GAG enzymatic degradation on the interfacial strength between mineralized tissue and titanium having different surface topographies. Rat bone marrow-derived osteoblastic cells were cultured on either a machined titanium disk or an acid-etched titanium disk. At day 21 of culture, one of the three following GAG degradation enzymes was added into the culture; chondroitinase AC, chondroitinase B, or keratanase. After 3 days of incubation (at day 24 of culture), the laser spallation technique was applied to the samples in order to assess the tissue-titanium interfacial strength. In this technique, a laser-generated stress wave is used to separate the tissue-titanium interface, and the interfacial strength is determined interferometrically by recording the transient free surface velocity of the tissue. Mineralized tissue cultured on the acid-etched titanium showed 20-30% higher tissue interfacial strength than that cultured on the machined titanium (p < 0.0001). For both the machined and acid-etched surface cultures, administration of the enzyme reduced the interfacial strength by 25-30% compared with the untreated control cultures (p < 0.0001). There were no differences in the effect among the three different enzymes tested. A nanoindentation study revealed that the enzyme treatment did not affect the elastic modulus of the mineralized tissue. Scanning electron microscopic and energy dispersive spectroscopic analyses revealed less post-spallation tissue remnant on the titanium substrates when treated with the enzymes. The tissue remnant was greater in amount on the acid-etched surface than on the machined surface. The results suggest that there exists not only mechanical interlocking but also biological interfacial adhesion between the mineralized tissue and titanium, in which the proteoglycan/GAG complex is involved.

Animals↗

SEM/EDS evaluation of porcelain adherence to gold-coated cast titanium.

The adhesion between titanium and dental porcelain is related to the diffusion of oxygen to the reaction layer formed on cast-titanium surfaces during porcelain firing. The diffusion of oxygen could be suppressed by coating the titanium surface with a thin gold layer. This study characterized the effects of gold coating on titanium-ceramic adhesion. ASTM grade II CP titanium was cast into a MgO-based investment (Selevest CB, Selec). The specimen surfaces were air abraded with 110-microm Al(2)O(3) particles. Gold coating was applied on titanium surfaces by three methods: gold-paste (Deck Gold NF, Degussa-Ney) coating and firing at 800 degrees C for three times, single gold-paste coating and firing followed by sputter coating (40 mA, 500 s), and sputter coating (40 mA, 1000 s). Surfaces only air abraded with Al(2)O(3) particles were used as controls. An ultra-low-fusing dental porcelain (Vita Titankeramik, Vident) was fused on titanium surfaces. Specimen surfaces were characterized by SEM/EDS and XRD. The titanium-ceramic adhesion was evaluated by a biaxial flexure test (N = 8), and area fraction of adherent porcelain (AFAP) was determined by EDS. Numerical results were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA and the Student-Newman-Keuls test at alpha = 0.05. SEM fractography showed a substantial amount of porcelains remaining on the gold-sputter-coated titanium surfaces. A new Au(2)Ti phase was found on gold-coated titanium surface after the firing. Significantly higher (p <.05) AFAP values were determined for the gold-sputter-coated specimens compared to the others. No significant differences were found among the other groups and the control. Results suggested that gold coatings used in this study are not effective barriers to completely protect titanium from oxidation during the porcelain firing, and porcelain adherence to cast titanium can be improved by gold-sputter coating used in the present study.

Dental Porcelain↗

Micro-XRD study of beta-titanium wires and infrared soldered joints.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the metallurgical phases in beta-titanium soldered joints prepared by infrared soldering, using the Micro X-ray diffraction technique (Micro-XRD), and to characterize the Vickers hardness in the soldered beta-titanium wires. METHODS: Beta-titanium wires with cross-section dimensions of 0.032in.x0.032in. (TMA, Ormco), and both titanium-based solder (Ti-30Ni-20Cu, Selec) and silver-based solder (Ag-22Cu-17Zn-5Sn, Tomy) were selected. Soldering was performed using infrared radiation (RS-1, Morita) under argon atmosphere. Micro-XRD analyses were performed at room temperature. Micro-XRD spectra were obtained for the boundary region of the soldered beta-titanium wires using 50microm and 10microm diameter analysis regions. Hardness was measured at 30microm intervals from boundary of the diffusion layer and beta-titanium wire. The Kruskal-Wallis test with the Bonferroni and Wilcoxson Mann-Whitney tests for nonparametric means were employed as statistical methods (P<0.05). RESULTS: For both types of soldered beta-titanium samples, the Micro-XRD spectra contained four major peaks for body-centered cubic (bcc) beta-titanium. Additional peaks at about 41 and 45 degrees are attributed to Cu-Ti intermetallic phase(s), which may be metastable under soldering conditions. The diffusion layer had greater hardness than bulk beta-titanium for both types of soldered specimens (P<0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: Soldering of beta-titanium orthodontic wire by infrared radiation may be acceptable for clinical use, since Micro-XRD spectra revealed that both types of soldered specimens largely retained the bcc beta-titanium structure. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of infrared-soldered beta-titanium wire.

Alloys↗

In vitro assay of mineralized-tissue formation on titanium using fluorescent staining with calcein blue.

Many studies have examined mineralized-tissue formation on titanium in vivo and in vitro; however, no precise method for measuring the mineralized tissue produced by cultured osteoblastic cells on titanium in vitro has been established. This study developed a method for measuring mineralized-tissue formation by cultured rat osteoblastic cells on titanium in vitro, and re-evaluated the effects of modifying the titanium surface. We used calcein blue, which binds to mineralized tissue, and measured the resulting fluorescence under ultraviolet light. A 1-h incubation with 3.1x10(-3)M calcein blue resulted in sufficient fluorescence of bone-like nodules on the titanium. Consequently, we found that osteoblastic cells produced larger bone-like nodules on titanium than in culture dishes. Fewer bone-like nodules formed on calcium-ion impregnated titanium than on pure titanium. However, when bisphosphonate was immobilized on the calcium-ion impregnated titanium, more bone-like nodules formed than on pure titanium. The results suggest that bisphosphonate immobilization on titanium is useful for stimulating mineralized-tissue formation on titanium implants.

Animals↗

Surface changes induced by fluoride prophylactic agents on titanium-based orthodontic wires.

This study investigated the effect of fluoride prophylactic agents on the surfaces of titanium-based orthodontic wires. Four types of titanium-based orthodontic wires (2 nickel-titanium alloy wires [nickel-titanium and copper-nickel-titanium] and 2 beta-titanium alloy wires [titanium-molybdenum and titanium-niobium], all from Ormco, Glendora, Calif) with similar sizes were prepared and immersed in 5 fluoride prophylactic agents (2 acidulated phosphate fluoride agents [Nupro APF (Dentsply International, York, Pa) and Florentine III (Confi-Dental, Louisville, Colo)], 1 neutral agent [Neupro Neutral (Dentsply International)] and 2 stannous fluoride agents [Florentine II (Confi-Dental) and Perio-Med (Omni International, Warrenton, Va)]) for 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 24 hours. After immersion, average surface roughness and color changes were evaluated. The surface changes were observed with a scanning electron microscope. The average surface roughness data were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test at a significance level of alpha = 0.05. There were no significant differences in average surface roughness value among fluoride solutions or orthodontic wires, except for the titanium-molybdenum wire, which showed significantly (P <.05) higher average surface roughness values after immersion in Nupro APF for 24 hours. The results suggested that a few applications of acidulated phosphate fluoride agents might change the surface color of the beta-titanium alloy wires, particularly the titanium-molybdenum wire, which contains a large amount (about 80%) of titanium.

Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride↗

Multicycle mechanical performance of titanium and stainless steel transpedicular spine implants.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective in vitro study comparing titanium alloy and stainless steel alloy in transpedicular spine implants from two different manufactures. OBJECTIVE: To compare the multicycle mechanical performance of these two alloys, used in each of two different implant designs. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Transpedicular spine implants primarily have been manufactured from stainless steel, but titanium alloy offers imaging advantages. However, the notch sensitivity of titanium alloy has caused concern regarding how implants made from this material will compare in stiffness and fatigue life with implants made from stainless steel. METHODS: Twenty-four implants (two alloys, two designs, six implants per group) were mounted in machined polyethylene wafers and repetitively loaded (up to 1 million cycles) from 80 N to 800 N using a 5-Hertz sinusoidal waveform. Load and displacement data were automatically and periodically sampled throughout the entire test. RESULTS: Implant stiffness increased with cycle load number, reached a steady state, then declined just before fatigue failure. Stiffness varied less in titanium transpedicular spine implants than in their stainless counterparts. All stainless steel implant types were stiffer (steady-state value, P < 0.0001) than their titanium alloy counterparts. One titanium implant design failed with fewer (P < 0.05) load cycles than its stainless steel counterpart, whereas a stainless steel implant of another design failed with fewer (P < 0.002) load cycles than its titanium counterpart. Overall, fatigue life, i.e., the total number of load cycles until failure, was related to implant type (P < 0.0001), but not to implant material. CONCLUSIONS: A transpedicular spine implant's fatigue lifetime depends on both the design and the material and cannot be judged on material alone. Stainless steel implants are stiffer than titanium alloy implants of equal design and size; however, for those designs in which the fatigue life of the titanium alloy version is superior, enlargement of the implant's components can compensate for titanium's lower modulus of elasticity and result in an implant equally stiff as its stainless steel counterpart. Such an implant made from titanium alloy would then be clinically preferable because of titanium's previously reported imaging advantages.

Elasticity↗

The effect of titanium particulate on development and maintenance of a posterolateral spinal arthrodesis: an in vivo rabbit model.

STUDY DESIGN: The current study was undertaken to determine if the presence of titanium wear particulate deleteriously influences early osseointegration of posterolateral bone graft or disrupts an established posterolateral fusion mass. OBJECTIVES: Using an in vivo animal model to evaluate the effect(s) of titanium wear particulate on a posterolateral spinal arthrodesis based on serologic, histologic, and immunocytochemical analyses. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The effect of unintended wear particulate resulting from micromotion between the interconnection mechanisms in spinal instrumentation remains a clinical concern. METHODS: Thirty-four New Zealand White rabbits were randomized into two groups based on postoperative time periods of 2 months (Group 1, n = 14) and 4 months (Group 2, n = 20). Group 1 underwent a posterolateral arthrodesis at L5-L6 using tricortical iliac autograft or tricortical iliac autograft + titanium particulate. Group 2 received iliac autograft at the initial surgery and were reoperated on after 8 weeks and treated with posterolateral arthrodesis exposure alone or titanium particulate. Postoperative analysis included serologic quantification of systemic cytokines. Postmortem microradiographic, immunocytochemical, and histopathologic assessment of the intertransverse fusion mass quantified the extent of osteolysis, local pro-inflammatory cytokines, osteoclasts, and inflammatory infiltrates. RESULTS: Serologic analysis of systemic cytokines indicated no significant differences in cytokine levels (P > 0.05) between the titanium or autograft treatments. Immunocytochemistry indicated increased levels of local cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) at the titanium-treated posterolateral arthrodesis sites at both time periods (P < 0.05). Osteoclast cell counts and regions of osteolytic resorption lacunas were higher in the titanium-treated versus autograft-alone groups (P < 0.05), and the extent of cellular apoptosis was markedly higher in the titanium-treated sites at both time intervals. Electron microscopy indicated definitive evidence of phagocytized titanium particles and foci of local, chronic, inflammatory changes in the titanium-treated sites. CONCLUSION: Titanium particulate debris introduced at the level of a spinal arthrodesis elicits a cytokine-mediated particulate-induced response favoring pro-inflammatory infiltrates, increased expression of intracellular tumor necrosis factor-alpha, increased osteoclastic activity, and cellular apoptosis. The presence of titanium particulate debris, secondary to motion between spinal implants, may serve as the impetus for late-onset inflammatory-infectious complications and long-term osteolysis of an established posterolateral fusion mass in the clinical setting.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Attachment of human marrow stromal cells to titanium surfaces.

The attachment of human bone marrow stromal cells to titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) surfaces was investigated. Titanium disks were polished and modified by surface roughening and by passivation in nitric add. Cell attachment to titanium surfaces and tissue culture plastic (TCP) was determined by tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay at 2, 6, 24, and 48 hours after seeding. Cell proliferation was determined by thymidine incorporation. Attachment on titanium surfaces was 75.6% to 94.9% of attachment on TCP control. The difference between cell attachment on the TCP compared with smooth or rough titanium was statistically significant (P < .05). However, no statistically significant difference was found between attachment to TCP and passivated titanium. Cell proliferation on titanium surfaces after 24 hours was approximately 70% of proliferation on TCP. There was a statistically significant difference (P < .05) between proliferation on tissue culture and smooth and passivated titanium but not on rough titanium. These results indicate that titanium provides a surface that is conducive to cell attachment and that passivating titanium improves cell attachment, approaching levels seen with TCP, a surface specifically developed to enhance cell attachment. Increasing surface roughness results in improved cell proliferation on titanium.

Alloys↗

Titanium-porcelain system. Part III: effects of surface modification on bond strengths.

During its development, titanium was found to be incompatible with conventional dental porcelains due to weak bond strength brought about by titanium's high yet oxidative nature. In spite of the development of new low-fusing porcelains designed for titanium application, previous studies have shown that sandblasting pre-treatment prior to porcelain application led to weakening of the metal-ceramic bonding. The aim of this study is to search for an effective alternative to sandblasting for the surface treatment of the titanium substrate in the titanium-porcelain system. The research evaluated the bond strength of 165 samples of titanium-porcelain systems divided into 11 groups. A three-point flexural bend test was conducted to measure the force required to fracture the porcelain on the titanium substrate. A correlation between the type of surface treatment and the bond strengths of each group was evaluated if it resulted to significant differences. The study found significantly differences in the energy-to-break of titanium-porcelain systems treated with hydrochloric acid and sandblasting compared with the control group. The bonds strength achieved by the titanium-porcelain system when treated with hydrochloric acid is comparable to that of conventional metal-ceramic alloy system. Hydrochloric acid treatment of the titanium substrate is a promising alternative to sandblasting for the surface treatment of the titanium substrate in the titanium-porcelain system.

Aluminum Oxide↗

Locally Addressable Electrochemical Patterning Technique (LAEPT) applied to poly(L-lysine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) adlayers on titanium and silicon oxide surfaces.

The protein-resistant polycationic graft polymer, poly(L-lysine)-g-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-g-PEG), was uniformly adsorbed onto a homogenous titanium surface and subsequently subjected to a direct current (dc) voltage. Under the influence of an ascending cathodic and anodic potential, there was a steady and gradual loss of PLL-g-PEG from the conductive titanium surface while no desorption was observed on the insulating silicon oxide substrates. We have implemented this difference in the electrochemical response of PLL-g-PEG on conductive titanium and insulating silicon oxide regions as a biosensing platform for the controlled surface functionalization of the titanium areas while maintaining a protein-resistant background on the silicon oxide regions. A silicon-based substrate was micropatterned into alternating stripes of conductive titanium and insulating silicon oxide with subsequent PLL-g-PEG adsorption onto its surfaces. The surface modified substrate was then subjected to +1800 mV (referenced to the silver electrode). It was observed that the potentiostatic action removed the PLL-g-PEG from the titanium stripes without inducing any polyelectrolyte loss from the silicon oxide regions. Time-of-flight secondary ions mass spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy qualitatively confirmed the PLL-g-PEG retention on the silicon oxide stripes and its absence on the titanium region. This method, known as "Locally Addressable Electrochemical Patterning Technique" (LAEPT), offers great prospects for biomedical and biosensing applications. In an attempt to elucidate the desorption mechanism of PLL-g-PEG in the presence of an electric field on titanium surface, we have conducted electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experiments on bare titanium substrates. The results showed that electrochemical transformations occurred within the titanium oxide layer; its impedance and polarization resistance were found to decrease steadily upon both cathodic and anodic polarization resulting in the polyelectrolyte desorption from the titanium surface.

Biosensing Techniques↗

Corrosion resistance of titanium-silver alloys in an artificial saliva containing fluoride ions.

Dental gels and rinses for caries prophylactic contain fluoride at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1%. In addition, many types of fluoride-releasing materials have been used in dental applications. The purpose of the study was to investigate the addition effect of fluoride into artificial saliva on the corrosion resistance of pure titanium and titanium-silver alloys. Titanium and titanium-silver alloys were arc melted, homogenized at 950 degrees C for 72 h, hot rolled, and solution heat treated and quenched. In order to investigate the effect of the fluoride ions on the corrosion resistance, potentiodynamic polarization testing, potentiostatic testing, and open-circuit potential measurements were performed in plain artificial saliva and 0.1 and 1% NaF-added artificial saliva. The passive current densities of titanium and titanium-silver alloys increased with increasing fluoride-ion concentration. Ti2.0Ag and Ti3.0Ag exhibited a low current density relatively and showed a stable behavior compared to titanium. The open-circuit potential of titanium decreased and current density at 250 mV (SCE) potentiostatic testing reacted sensitively with increasing fluoride concentration. On the other hand, the open-circuit potential of titanium-silver alloys with a high silver content (3.0-4.0 at %) reacted less sensitively to the fluoride-ion concentration. Among titanium-silver alloys, Ti3.0Ag alloy had a higher resistance against the attack of fluoride ions and showed a more stable open-circuit potential and current density than titanium in the fluoride-containing solution. It is concluded that they are electrochemically stable and maintained good corrosion resistance in fluoride-containing artificial saliva.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Corrosion behavior and surface characterization of titanium in solution containing fluoride and albumin.

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the role of albumin on the corrosion behavior of titanium in a solution containing 2.0 g/l fluoride and either 0.1 or 1.0 g/l albumin. The corrosion behavior and surface characterization of passive films on titanium immersed in such a solution were examined. In addition, the change in pH and the concentration of dissolved titanium in the solution were examined. The results showed that the corrosion of titanium in a solution containing fluoride was distinct, and that adding albumin to the solution containing fluoride suppressed corrosion. Fluorine was detected on the titanium surface immersed in the solution containing fluoride, and dissolution of the titanium was confirmed. The titanium immersed in a solution containing both fluoride and albumin had an albumin film regardless of the albumin concentration. In addition, the amount of dissolved titanium from the titanium immersed in the solution was less than when the solution contained no albumin. It was suggested that the formation of adsorbed albumin films on or in the passive film acted to not only protect the titanium from attack by the fluoride but also suppressed dissolution of the titanium-fluoride compounds.

Albumins↗

Surface functionalized titanium thin films: zeta-potential, protein adsorption and cell proliferation.

The relationship between electric charge at a material surface and protein adsorption is essential to understand the mechanism of biological integration of materials with tissues. This study investigated the influence of titanium thin films' surface chemistry and surface electric charge (zeta-potential) properties on protein adsorption and cell proliferation. Titanium thin films were surface functionalized with different functional end groups, such as -CH=CH2, -NH2 and -COOH groups in order to produce surfaces with a variety of electric charge properties. The chemical compositions, electric charges and wettability were investigated by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), zeta-potential measurements and water contact angle measurements, respectively. XPS revealed the surface functionalization of titanium films with -CH=CH2, -NH2, and -COOH groups, which were converted from -CH=CH2 groups. Ti-COOH samples showed the lowest water contact angles and zeta-potential compared to all other samples investigated in this study. NH2-terminated titanium films displayed intermediate contact angles of 70.3+/-2.5 degrees . Fibrinogen adsorption on titanium films and surface functionalized titanium films were investigated in this study. Ti-COOH samples displayed a lower protein adsorption than all other groups, such as NH2-, -CH=CH2-terminated titanium thin films. A tendency that the lower zeta-potential of the samples, the lower the protein adsorption at their surfaces was observed. In vitro cell proliferation tests were also performed on the different surface functionalized titanium films. NH2-terminated titanium films displayed good cell proliferation and cell viability tendency. However, a lower cell proliferation on COOH-terminated titanium films was observed compared with NH2-terminated titanium films. This effect was attributed to the difference in protein adsorption of these samples.

Adsorption↗

Effect of surface treatment on bond strength of low-fusing porcelain to commercially pure titanium.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Due to the pronounced oxidative nature of titanium at high temperatures, an excessively thick layer of TiO(2) may form on the surface. This oxide layer could adversely affect titanium-porcelain bonding. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of bonding agent and surface treatment using airborne-particle abrasion and hydrochloric acid on the bond strength between a low-fusing porcelain and commercially pure cast titanium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A casting unit was used to cast 60 specimens of commercially pure titanium (25.0 x 3.0 x 0.5 mm). The specimens were equally divided into 3 groups. The first group received no surface treatment and served as the control, the second group was subjected to airborne-particle abrasion, and the third group was treated with hydrochloric acid. The specimens in each group were further divided into 2 subgroups of 10 each. Ten specimens were treated with bonding agent (Noritake), and 10 specimens were not treated with bonding agent. Low-fusing porcelain (Noritake) was fired onto the surface of the specimens. A universal testing machine was used to perform the 3-point bending test. The titanium-ceramic interfaces were subjected to scanning electron microscopic analysis. The bond failure data (MPa) were analyzed with a 2-way analysis of variance and Tukey multiple range tests (alpha=.05). Four specimens from each group were selected for scanning electron microscopic examination. RESULTS: The debonding test showed that surface treatment with airborne-particle abrasion followed by application of a bonding agent resulted in the strongest (35.60 +/- 8.15 MPa) titanium-ceramic bond (P<.001), followed by airborne-particle abrasion alone (25.6 +/- 5.4 MPa) and bonding agent alone (24.7 +/- 6.3 MPa). Hydrochloric acid surface treatment provided no beneficial effect to the titanium-ceramic bond strength compared to untreated specimens (P=.975). The photomicrographs of the titanium surface after debonding demonstrated residual porcelain retained on the metal surface for all groups. CONCLUSIONS: Surface treatment using either airborne-particle abrasion or bonding agent alone enhanced the bond strength of cast commercially pure titanium to low-fusing porcelain. The combination of airborne-particle abrasion and bonding agent provided the greatest improvement in titanium-ceramic bond strength. Titanium surface treatment with hydrochloric acid, with or without bonding agent, produced values that were not statistically different than the control.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

In vitro evaluation of biocompatibility of experimental titanium alloys for dental restorations.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Applications of titanium casting to fixed and removable prostheses have not been satisfactory because of the high melting point of titanium and its great reactivity with mold materials. Low-melting titanium alloys would alleviate many casting problems. At the present time, low-melting titanium alloys are not available for clinical dental use. PURPOSE: The study evaluated the safety of 2 prototype low-melting titanium casting alloys for their future development for dental restorations. The 2 experimental titanium alloys were titanium-cobalt(Ti 81.4% wt, Co 18.6% wt) and titanium-silver (Ti 75% wt, Ag 25% wt). Commercially pure titanium and a commonly used nickel-chromium-based dental alloy were also included for comparison. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Assays for evaluating mutagenicity and cytotoxicity were Ames salmonella/microsome mutagenicity spot test, agar diffusion method, and cell attachment assay. RESULTS: The results of Ames test showed that none of the experimental titanium alloys, pure titanium, or nickel-chromium samples were mutagenic. There were no leachable components to cause cellular lysis or decolorization in the agar diffusion assay from the 4 group metals. The results of the cell attachment assay demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the numbers of cells attached to the 4 group metals. However, the mean number of cells attached to nickel-chromium samples was significantly lower than that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the data obtained from this study, it is concluded that the prototype Ti alloys are not mutagenic and imposes minimal risks associated with cytotoxicity.

Agar↗