Attachment, Proliferation and Osteogenic Response of Osteoblast-Like Cells Cultured on Titanium Treated by a Novel Multiphase Anodic Spark Deposition Process

Abstract: A new bioactive titanium surface treatment, labeled Ti-ASD, was developed using the electrochemical anodic spark deposition (ASD) technique and results in a thickened titanium oxide layer with higher levels of calcium and phosphorus typical of newly deposited mineral phase. This study was aimed at extending the knowledge on Ti-ASD treatment, by means of evaluation of the attachment, morphology, proliferation, metabolic activity, differentiation, and mineralization of osteoblast-like cells (SaOS-2) after growth on Ti-ASD treated titanium compared with nontreated titanium (Ti) and with chemically etched titanium (Ti-ETC). This novel type of titanium coating supported cell attachment, cell proliferation, and mineralization, revealing no cytotoxicity effects. The expression of differentiation markers on Ti-ASD treated titanium shows that genes related to the proliferation phase (Collagen type I, Coll I; Cbfa-1) were early expressed, whereas genes related to the mineralization phase (alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, bone sialo protein) increased in a time-related way. Mineralization occurred on all analyzed surfaces, but on Ti-ASD the number of bone-like nodules and the amount of mineralized area was higher. In conclusion, Ti-ASD resulted to be a good surface for osteoblast attachment and proliferation, also promoting the maintenance of cell differentiation and matrix mineralization, a fundamental requirement for sustain the osseointegration and the clinical success of dental implants.