A new generation
of biomaterials are evolving from being biologically
inert toward bioactive surfaces, which can further interact with biological
components at the nanoscale. Here, we present directed irradiation
synthesis (DIS) as a novel technology to selectively apply plasma
ions to bombard any type of biomaterial and tailor the nanofeatures
needed for in vitro growth stimulation. In this work,
we demonstrate for the first time, the influence of physiochemical
cues (e.g., self-organized topography at nanoscale) of medical grade
Ti6Al4V results in control of cell shape, adhesion,
and proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle stem cells. The control
of surface nanostructures was found to be correlated to ion-beam incidence
angle linked to a surface diffusive regime during irradiation synthesis
with argon ions at energies below 1 keV and a fluence of 2.5 ×
1017 cm–2. Cell viability and cytoskeleton
morphology were evaluated at 24 h, observing an advance cell attachment
state on post-DIS surfaces. These modified surfaces showed 84% of
cell biocompatibility and an increase in cytoplasmatic protusions
ensuring a higher cell adhesion state. Filopodia density was promoted
by a 3-fold change for oblique incidence angle DIS treatment compared
to controls (e.g., no patterning) and lamellipodia structures were
increased more than a factor of 2, which are indicators of cell attachment
stimulation due to DIS modification. In addition, the morphology of
the nanofeatures were tailored, with high fidelity control of the
main DIS parameters that control diffusive and erosive regimes of
self-organization. We have correlated the morphology and the influence
in cell behavior, where nanoripple formation is the most active morphology
for cell stimulation.