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Abstract
Hierarchical hybrid micro/nano-textured titanium surface topographies with titania
nanotubes were produced by simple acid etching followed by anodization to mimic the
hierarchical structure of bone tissues. Primary rat osteoblasts were used to evaluate
the bioactivity. The microtopography formed by acid etching of titanium induced inconsistent
osteoblast functions with initial cell adhesion and osteogenesis-related gene expression
being dramatically enhanced while other cell behaviors such as proliferation, intracellular
total protein synthesis and alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen secretion, and
extracellular matrix mineralization being depressed. In comparison, addition of nanotubes
to the microtopography led to enhancement of multiple osteoblast functions. Nearly
all the cell functions investigated in this study were retained or promoted. Compared
to a microtopography, the enhancement of multiple cell functions observed from the
hierarchical micro/nano-textured surfaces is expected to lead to faster bone maturation
around the titanium implants without compromising the bone mass. In addition, the
hierarchical micro/nano-textured surfaces still retain the mechanical interlocking
ability of the microtopography thereby boding well for osseointegration. Our study
reveals a synergistic role played by the micro and nanotopographies in osteoblast
functions and provides insight to the design of better biomedical implant surfaces.
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