This study investigated the influence of surface wettability on competitive protein adsorption and the initial attachment of osteoblasts. A thin-film coating of hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) and subsequent O(2)-plasma treatment was carried out on substrates with a mirror surface in order to create a wide range of wettabilities. The adsorption behavior of fibronectin (Fn) and albumin (Alb) in both individual and competitive mode, and the initial attachment of mouse osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1) over a wide range of wettabilities were investigated. The contact angle of HMDSO coatings without O(2)-plasma treatment against double-distilled water was more than 100 degrees, whereas it dramatically decreased after the O(2)-plasma treatment to almost 0 degrees, resulting in super-hydrophilicity. Individually, Fn adsorption showed a biphasic inclination, whereas Alb showed greater adsorption to hydrophobic surfaces. In the competitive mode, in a solution containing both Fn and Alb, Fn showed greater adsorption on hydrophilic surfaces, whereas Alb predominantly adsorbed on hydrophobic surfaces. The initial attachment of osteoblastic cells increased with an increase in surface wettability, in particular, on a super-hydrophilic surface, which correlated well with Fn adsorption in the competitive mode. These results suggest that Fn adsorption may be responsible for increasing cell adhesion on hydrophilic surfaces in a body fluid or culture media under physiological conditions.

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PIE attached to the implant via hemidesmosomes and IBL in the lower region of the PIE-implant interface. Although PIE cells may secrete laminin-1, which contributes to epidermal cell adhesion, the PIE which attaches to implants only in the lower region of the interface is considered to be the poorly adhered epithelium.

Surface wettability is an important physicochemical property of biomaterials, and it would be more helpful for understanding this property if a wide range of wettability are employed. This study focused on the effect of surface wettability on fibroblast adhesion over a wide range of wettability using a single material without changing surface topography. Plasma polymerization with hexa methyldisiloxane followed by oxygen (O 2 ) plasma treatment was employed to modify the surfaces. The water contact angle of sample surfaces varied from 106 degrees (hydrophobicity) to almost 0 degrees (super-hydrophilicity). O 2 -functional groups were introduced on polymer surfaces during O 2 -plasma treatment. The cell attachment study confirmed that the more hydrophilic the surface, the more fibroblasts adhered in the initial stage that includes on super-hydrophilic surfaces. Cells spread much more widely on the hydrophilic surfaces than on the hydrophobic surfaces. There was no significant difference in fibroblast proliferation, but cell spreading was much greater on the hydrophilic surfaces. These findings suggest the importance of the surface wettability of biomaterials on initial cell attachment and spreading. The degree of wettability should be taken into account when a new biomaterial is to be employed. Further research of surface wettability on adhesive molecules is necessary for a better understanding of this property.

Surface modification technologies are available for tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (TZP) to enhance its bioactivity and osseointegration capability. The surface wettability of an implant material is one of the important factors in the process of osseointegration, possibly regulating protein adsorption, and subsequent cell behavior. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of topographical or physicochemical modification of TZP ceramics on wettability to determine the potential of such treatment in application to implants. Several types of surface topography were produced by alumina blasting and acid etching with hydrofluoric acid; surface physicochemistry was modified with oxygen (O(2)) plasma, ultraviolet (UV) light, or hydrogen peroxide treatment. The obtained specimens were also subjected to storage under various conditions to evaluate their potential to maintain superhydrophilicity. The results showed that surface modification of surface topography or physicochemistry, especially of blast/acid etching as well as O(2) plasma and UV treatment, greatly increased the surface wettability, resulting in superhydrophilicity. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that a remarkable decrease in carbon content and the introduction of hydroxyl groups were responsible for the observed superhydrophilicity. Furthermore, superhydrophilicity was maintained, even after immersion in an aqueous solution, an important consideration in the clinical application of this technology.