title: Spreading of epithelial cells on machined and sandblasted titanium surfaces: an in vitro study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this investigation was to determine the influence of the surface structure of dental implants on epithelial cell spreading and growth in vitro. Cell morphology on machined and sandblasted titanium surfaces was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 10 machined and 10 sandblasted discs and 10 glass coverslips were used for the present study. Samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the cell spreading area was determined using a video image analysis system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 24 hours incubation, keratinocytes grown on sandblasted titanium samples displayed numerous, long, and branched or dendritic filopodia closely adapted to the surface roughness. Filopodia varied from 3 to 12 microm in length and 0.1 to 0.3 microm in width. Cells cultured on a machined surface did not present such cytoplasmic extensions and displayed a round morphology. Keratinocytes seeded on glass coverslips were flat and edged by filopodia (maximum length 7 to 8 microm) on the spreading site of the cluster. Though cell morphology is comparable with that observed on sandblasted specimens, cytoplasmic extensions suggestive of strong adhesion and spreading attitude were less pronounced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that sandblasted surfaces are the optimal substrata for epithelial cell adhesion and spreading.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, University G. d'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Maristella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Carmine
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Toto
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feliciani
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarano
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tulli
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Strocchi
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piattelli
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D048429:Cell Size; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D003764:Dental Materials; D014025:Titanium