The Evaluation of Osteoblastic Cell Behavior on Treated Titanium Surface

There are several potential advantages in optimizing the initial events of osseointegration in the benefit of clinical outcome.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of osteoblastic cells on surfaces treated by double acid etching using HNO₃ and H₂SO₄.

Commercially pure titanium (grade 4) discs measuring 6 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness were used. The discs were divided into two groups: machined group and double acid-etched discs (HNO₃ and H₂SO₄). Surface characteristics were assessed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were used for cell culture on the tested surfaces to assess proliferation, viability (MTT), as well as secretion (ELISA) and cytoplasmic expression (Western blot) of type I collagen.

The data obtained were analyzed using t-test or two-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s test at 95% significance. The titanium surfaces showed average roughness values for the machined and treated surfaces of 0.29 and 1.16, respectively (p<0.05). An increase in cell proliferation was observed, which was corroborated by the viability assay. Both type I collagen secretion and intracellular expression were higher on the double acid-etched surface compared to the machine surfaces (p<0.05).

Implant surfaces treated by double acid etching positively affected the early events of the interaction between titanium and osteoblastic cells, suggesting optimization of osseintegration.