Osteoblastic cell behaviour on different titanium implant surfaces.

The osseointegration of oral implants is related to the early interactions between osteoblastic cells and titanium surfaces. The behaviour of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells was compared on four different titanium surfaces: mirror-polished (Smooth-Ti), alumina grit-blasted (Alumina-Ti) or biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic grit-blasted (BCP-Ti) and a commercially available implant surface (SLA). Scanning electron microscopy and profilometry showed distinct microtopographies. The BCP-Ti group had higher average surface roughness (Ra=2.5 microm) than the other grit-blasted groups. Hydrophilicity and surfaces energies were determined on the different substrates by dynamic contact angle measurements. The most hydrophilic surface was the Alumina-Ti discs, while SLA was the most hydrophobic. The titanium surfaces were all oxidized as TiO2 and polluted by carbon contaminants, as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Alumina-Ti samples also exhibited aluminium peaks as a result of the blasting. The BCP-Ti discs contained traces of calcium and phosphorus. MC3T3-E1 cells attached, spread and proliferated on the substrates. For both the SLA and BCP-Ti groups, the entire surface was covered with a layer of osteoblastic cells after 2 days. At high magnification, the cells exhibited cytoplasmic extensions and filopodia. Compared with plastic, cell viability was similar with the Smooth-Ti, slightly lower with the Alumina-Ti and superior with the SLA and BCP-Ti groups. Alkaline phosphatase activity increased with the culture time whatever the substrate. This study shows that BCP-blasting produces rough titanium implants without surface contaminants.