The effect of ultraviolet functionalization of titanium on integration with bone

• Published in: Biomaterials 2009-02, Vol.30 (6), p.1015-1025
• Main Authors: Aita, Hideki, Hori, Norio, Takeuchi, Masato, Suzuki, Takeo, Yamada, Masahiro, Anpo, Masakazu, Ogawa, Takahiro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption - drug effects; Adsorption - radiation effects; Advanced Basic Science; Animals; Arthroplasty; Carbon; Cattle; Cell Adhesion - drug effects; Cell Adhesion - radiation effects; Cell Movement - drug effects; Cell Movement - radiation effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - radiation effects; Dental implant; Dentistry; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Femoral stem; Fibronectins - metabolism; Hydrocarbon; Implants, Experimental; Male; Osseointegration; Osseointegration - drug effects; Osseointegration - radiation effects; Osteoblasts - cytology; Osteoblasts - drug effects; Osteoblasts - radiation effects; Osteogenesis - drug effects; Osteogenesis - radiation effects; Phenotype; Photocatalysis; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Serum Albumin, Bovine - metabolism; Titanium - pharmacology; Titanium - radiation effects; Ultraviolet Rays
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2008.11.004

Abstract Titanium implants are used as a reconstructive anchor in orthopedic and dental diseases and problems. Recently, ultraviolet (UV) light-induced photocatalytic activity of titanium has earned considerable and broad interest in environmental and clean-energy sciences. This study determines whether UV treatment of titanium enhances its osteoconductive capacity. Machined and acid-etched titanium samples were treated with UV for various time periods up to 48 h. For both surfaces, UV treatment increased the rates of attachment, spread, proliferation and differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived osteoblasts, as well as the capacity of protein adsorption, by up to threefold. In vivo histomorphometry in the rat model revealed that new bone formation occurred extensively on UV-treated implants with virtually no intervention by soft tissue, maximizing bone–implant contact up to nearly 100% at week 4 of healing. An implant biomechanical test revealed that UV treatment accelerated the establishment of implant fixation 4 times. The rates of protein adsorption and cell attachment strongly correlated with the UV dose-responsive atomic percentage of carbon on TiO2 , but not with the hydrophilic status. The data indicated that UV light pretreatment of titanium substantially enhances its osteoconductive capacity, in association with UV-catalytic progressive removal of hydrocarbons from the TiO2 surface, suggesting a photofunctionalization of titanium enabling more rapid and complete establishment of bone–titanium integration.