Cyclic stretching experiments on osteoblast-like cells have proven to be a useful tool in understanding the underlying mechanisms of load transduction at the bone-implant surface. However, most experimental setups use silicone rubber substrates, which are atypical for orthopedic and dental implant materials. Therefore, we investigated the responses of osteoblast-like cells to loading on titanium (Ti)-coated versus plain silicone substrates. Ti-coated substrates were made by a radio-frequency magnetron sputtering process, and characterized using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and contact-angle measurements. Osteoblast-like cells cultured from rat bone marrow were seeded on both types of substrates and stretched for 1 h continuously. Subsequently, cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and calcium content were measured for up to 24 days after seeding. In addition light-, scanning electron-, and confocal laser scanning micrographs were made. The results showed that our Ti coating had a thickness of 50 nm and contained Ti/oxygen as 1:1. However, further characterization proved that the silicone material had a tendency to resurface through the coating. Osteoblast-like cells proliferated faster on the Ti-coated substrates, but differentiation was slower compared with the silicone substrates. It was concluded that that there was a definitive influence of the substrate material in mechanical stress models. Therefore, extrapolation of results obtained using silicone substrates cannot be translated directly toward the situation of metallic implant materials.

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Summary:We present scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) results that show the superstructure on the highly oriented pryrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface. The superlattice appears to be the result of an apparent twist boundary dislocation. The crucial point of the observation is that the superlattice changes simultaneously its constant from 18 to 72 nm when we go around the screw dislocation in the plane perpendicular to the dislocation vector. Based on available models of the graphite surface top layers, we are able to simulate observed STM images. Our STM observation of the superstructure lattice, whose lattice constant varies continuously, gives strong evidence that the superlattice is of Moiré pattern nature, but a correct model can be built only if the graphite electronic structure is taken into consideration.

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