Effects of adhesion molecules on the behavior of osteoblast-like cells and normal human fibroblasts on different titanium surfaces

This study examined the influences of titanium (Ti) discs with similar surface roughnesses (R(a) values), but with different topographies and chemical compositions, on the adhesion, spreading, and the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of osteoblast-like cells and normal human fibroblasts. The presence of adhesion molecules on the Ti surfaces and their effects on cell activity were also investigated. Two types of Ti discs were prepared. One kind was a mechanically polished Ti disc, and the other type was a disc obtained by the heating of hydroxyapatite (HA) dip-coated Ti. Scanning electron microscopy, optical interferometry, and scanning Auger electron spectroscopy were used to examine the surface morphology, roughness, and chemical composition, respectively, of the superficial Ti layer. The two types of Ti discs had different topographies and chemical compositions, but had similar R(a) values. The cells on both surface types had similar behaviors and ALP activities. A biological evaluation of the surface-modified Ti discs showed that the type I collagen coating was functionally active in terms of cell spreading in both types of Ti discs. In the mechanically polished Ti discs, fibronectin was functionally active in the normal human fibroblasts, but not in the osteoblast-like cells. Cell adhesion was slightly better on the heat-treated HA dip-coated Ti discs, but not on the mechanically polished Ti discs. Type I collagen and fibronectin mediated the adhesion and spreading of osteoblast-like cells through alpha2beta1 integrin and alpha5beta1 integrin, respectively. These results suggest that type I collagen might be a good candidate for the biochemical modification of Ti surfaces, particularly those surfaces obtained by heating of HA dip-coated Ti.