Adhesion, growth and differentiation markers in human osteoblast-like cells cultured on surface-modified metallic materials designer for bone implants

A series of metallic materials with different surface treatments were prepared: pure machined titanium (T), titanium polished by diamond paste (TL), machined Ti6Al4V alloy (TS), Ti6Al4V alloy polished by diamond paste (TSL), Ti5Al2.5Fe alloy treated by electro-erosion (A) and Ti5Al2.5Fe plasma-sprayed with Ti (PL). The materials were seeded with human osteoblast-like cells MG 63. One day after seeding, the highest cell numbers were obtained on the samples of medium surface roughness (T and TS; Ra 0.63-0.30 um and 0.89-0.57 um, respectively). From day 1 to 4, the cell proliferation was the quickest on the samples with the lowest surface roughness (TL and TSL; Ra 0.17-0.13 for both materials). The cells on TL also contained the highest concentration of integrin adhesion molecules with alpha V chain, i.e. receptors for vitronectin and fibronectin. One day 8 after seeding, the cell on all metallic samples as well as tissue culture polystyrene reached similar population densities. The cells on electro-eroded Ti5Al2.5Fe (samples A; Ra 15.27-0.74 um) contained the highest concentration of osteocalcin and osteopontin, i.e. markers of osteoblastic differentiation. Thus, the latter newly developed material could be considered as promising for construction of bone implants well anchored in the surrounding bone tissue.