No abstract

The effects of anodized titanium (Ti) with a potential hydrogen fluoride (HF) acid pretreatment through cathodization on the formation of nano-porous Ti dioxide (TiO2) layer were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffractometer, and contact angle goniometer. The biocompatibility was determined by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. Analytical results found that a well-aligned nano-porous structure was formed on the anodized Ti surface with HF pretreatment concentration above 0.5%. Microstructure of the nano-porous Ti dioxide surface generated by anodization with HF pretreatment was composed of anatase and rutile phases, while the anodized Ti sample with HF pretreatment concentration of 0.5% presented excellent hydrophilicity surface. An in-vitro biocompatibility also indicated that osteoblast cells grown on the surface of the anodized Ti sample with HF pretreatment increased with the increase of culture time. The filopodia of osteoblast cells not only adhered flat, but also tightly grabbed the nano-porous structure for promoting cell adhesion and proliferation. Therefore, the anodized Ti with HF pretreatment can form a functionalized surface with great biocompatibility for biomedical applications, particularly for dental implants.

This study investigates the results of cell cultures on aluminum (Al) templates with flat-structures, micro-structures, nano-structures and micro/nano-structures. An Al template with flat-structure was obtained by electrolytic polishing; an Al template with micro-structure was obtained by micro-powder blasting; an Al template with nano-structure was obtained by aluminum anodization; and an Al template with micro/nano-structure was obtained by micro-powder blasting and then anodization. Osteoblast-like cells were cultured on aluminum templates with various structures. The microculture tetrazolium test assay was utilized to assess the adhesion, elongation, and proliferation behaviors of cultured osteoblast-like cells on aluminum templates with flat-structures, micro-structures, nano-structures, and micro/nano-structures. The results showed that the surface characterization of micro/nano-structure of aluminum templates had superhydrophilic property, and these also revealed that an aluminum template with micro/nano-structure could provide the most suitable growth situation for cell culture.

The present study aimed to synthesize biphasic calcium phosphate ceramics (CaPs) composed of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) from the propagated Scleractinian coral and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous using a solid-state reaction followed by heat treatment at a temperature of 1100 °C for 1 h to 7 days. The as-prepared coral and coral-derived biphasic CaPs samples were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The cell response of the biphasic CaPs was evaluated by in vitro cytotoxicity assessment using mouse fibroblast (L929) cells. The bilateral femoral defect rabbit model was used to assess the early local reaction of the coral-derived biphasic CaPs bone graft on tissue. The results confirmed that the co-existence of β-TCP and HAp was formed at 1100 °C for 1 h. The ratio of HA/β-TCP increased as the heat-treatment time increased. The coral-derived biphasic CaPs comprising 61% HAp and 39% β-TCP (defined as HT-3) were not cytotoxic. Furthermore, no significant differences in local tissue reaction were observed between the HT-3 sample and autogenous bone. Therefore, the synthesized coral-derived biphasic CaPs is a candidate for bone grafting due to its good biocompatibility.