The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of treating titanium (Ti) with polyphosphoric acid on the attachment and proliferation of human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). Cleaned Ti disks were immersed into three different concentrations of polyphosphoric acid solution (0.1, 1, and 10 wt %) and 10 wt % orthophosphoric acid solution for 24 h at 37 degrees C. Ti immersed in distilled water for 24 h at 37 degrees C served as control. The level of polyphosphoric acid that interacted with the Ti surface was determined by measuring the surface P/Ti ratio (atom%/atom%) using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Degrees of cell attachment (1, 3, 5 h after cell seed) and proliferation (1, 3, 5, and 7 days after cell seed) on each treated Ti disk were evaluated by MTS assay. The mean surface P/Ti ratios increased in a polyphosphoric acid concentration dependent manner. A significantly higher cell attachment was found on Ti treated with polyphosphoric acid in contrast to untreated Ti (control) for all three culture periods. MTS assay also revealed that cell proliferation levels significantly increased following a polyphosphoric acid dose dependency. Ti surface treatment with orthophosphoric acid did not influence the cell attachment and proliferation. It was concluded that polyphosphoric acid treatment of Ti enhanced the attachment and proliferation of hBMSCs.