title: Improving Osteoblast Response In Vitro by a Nanostructured Thin Film with Titanium Carbide and Titanium Oxides Clustered around Graphitic Carbon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, we introduced a new deposition method, based on Ion Plating Plasma Assisted technology, to coat titanium implants with a thin but hard nanostructured layer composed of titanium carbide and titanium oxides, clustered around graphitic carbon. The nanostructured layer has a double effect: protects the bulk titanium against the harsh conditions of biological tissues and in the same time has a stimulating action on osteoblasts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The aim of this work is to describe the biological effects of this layer on osteoblasts cultured in vitro. We demonstrate that the nanostructured layer causes an overexpression of many early genes correlated to proteins involved in bone turnover and an increase in the number of surface receptors for α3β1 integrin, talin, paxillin. Analyses at single-cell level, by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and single cell force spectroscopy, show how the proliferation, adhesion and spreading of cells cultured on coated titanium samples are higher than on uncoated titanium ones. Finally, the chemistry of the layer induces a better formation of blood clots and a higher number of adhered platelets, compared to the uncoated cases, and these are useful features to improve the speed of implant osseointegration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, the nanostructured TiC film, due to its physical and chemical properties, can be used to protect the implants and to improve their acceptance by the bone.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Struttura della Materia, CNR, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133, Roma, Italy.|Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, SB IPSB LPMV, BSP 409 (Cubotron UNIL), R.te de la Sorge, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Roma 'La Sapienza', Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina Alexandra
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ioannidu
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Roma 'La Sapienza', Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scotto d'Abusco
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Tecnologie e Salute, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Superti
authors.affiliation: Romana Film Sottili, Anzio, Roma.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Misiano
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma 'La Sapienza', Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Robertino
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanoni
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Roma 'La Sapienza', Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Roma 'La Sapienza', Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzola
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Tecnologie e Salute, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iosi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Roma 'La Sapienza', Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Roma 'La Sapienza', Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scandurra
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry*; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D016348:Osseointegration; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051419:Paxillin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016608:Talin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C496061:PXN protein, human; D051419:Paxillin; D016608:Talin; C096521:titanium carbide; C009495:titanium dioxide; D006108:Graphite; D014025:Titanium