Abstract
In the search for methods to improve the biocompatibility of prosthetic materials, attention has recently been directed towards the usefulness of different surface topography and chemical modification and how they influence cellular behavior. This in vitro study investigates the effect of surface roughness and composition of commercial grade 3 titanium (Ti) discs on a well-characterized human bone-derived cell line (Hobit). Cells were cultured on machined Ti discs (TOR), polished with ceramic particles (BUR), alumina-sand-blasted (S-Al), glass-blasted (S-V), hydroxyapatite-blasted (S-HA), hydrofluoric acid etched (HF), titanium plasma-sprayed (Ti-PS) and hydroxyapatite plasma-sprayed (HA-PS). Cell attachment, proliferation, morphology and expression of alkaline phosphatase (AP), osteocalcin (OC) and type I collagen were studied. Cells attach to all surfaces, but proliferation differs among the variously treated materials: it is higher in TOR, BUR and HF than in S-Al, S-V, S-HA and Ti-PS, but much lower in HA-PS. Cells present the typical polygonal-morphology of the osteogenic cells and maintain the osteoblastic phenotype expressing AP activity and OC.