Effects of implant microtopography on osteoblast cell attachment

PURPOSE: The overall aim of this project was to study osteoblast cell attachment on titanium surfaces with varying surface roughness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Commercially pure titanium surfaces were prepared by polishing through 600-grit sandpaper, sandblasting, or sandblasting followed by acid etching to produce surfaces of varying roughness, as determined by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In vitro cell attachment of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts was performed on the prepared surfaces in both serum-containing and serum-free media conditions. RESULTS: Cell attachment was directly related to the average surface roughness, with the highest levels of cell attachment observed on sandblasted and sandblasted-acidetched surfaces. Similar patterns of cell attachment were observed when serum-free conditions were employed. CONCLUSIONS: Combined surface analytical and cell/molecular biological techniques are powerful tools to broaden our understanding of biological events occurring at the implant-tissue interface. Data acquired from these in vitro techniques provide a translational application to in vivo clinical models leading to the next generation of dental implants.