Improvement of in vitro titanium bioactivity by three different surface treatments.
OBJECTIVE
Dental implants are usually made from commercially pure titanium or titanium alloys. The aim of this investigation was to determine the influence of surface treatments of commercially pure titanium samples on in vitro bioactivity.


METHODS
Commercially pure (cp) titanium (Ti) sheets were submitted to three different surface treatments, including, for all samples, etching with an HCl/H(2)SO(4) solution. Part of each etched sample was further submitted either to anodic oxidation by using an H(3)PO(4) solution or to thermal oxidation. Treated and non-treated samples were analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), profilometry and photoelectron X-ray spectroscopy (XPS). The in vitro assessment was carried out through the immersion of samples in simulated body fluid (SBF). In vitro testing was carried out by SEM and by the determination of calcium (Ca) content in solution by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The non-treated titanium samples were used as the control group.


RESULTS
This study has shown that, after up to 7-day exposure, a calcium phosphate layer precipitated only on samples submitted to at least one of the three treatments used. This result, based on SEM images, is in good agreement with Ca content and XPS analysis, in which remarkable effects of surface modifications on Ti samples are highlighted.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that suitable surface treatments, such as employed here, may improve in vitro titanium bioactivity in a SBF solution at 37 degrees C. This behavior suggests a possibility of a further favorable in vivo response.
Vanzillotta
Paulo S
PS
Metallurgical and Materials Department, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, PEMM/COPPE/UFRJ, P.O. Box 68505, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-972, Brazil.
Sader
Marcia S
MS
Bastos
Ivan N
IN
Soares
Gloria de Almeida
Gde A
D000134:Acid Etching, Dental; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D006801:Humans; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D003764:Dental Materials; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; C020243:calcium phosphate; D014025:Titanium; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; D002118:Calcium