Interaction of the Titanium Nanostructured Surface with Simulated Body Fluid

Titanium behaves inert in the terms of its interaction with living tissue. Titanium implants are not usually rejected by the organism, nevertheless creation of the strong implant-bone bond can be long term and difficult process. Research aimed at applications of metallic biomaterials should be therefore focused on bioactivation of the implant surface, which could lead to faster and easier acceptance of an implant. One of the possible ways is nanostructuring of the surface. Possible indicator of potential bioactivity is the ability of hydroxyapatite precipitation on the material’s surface from simulated body fluid. The aim of this work was to compare interaction of differently prepared and treated surfaces of titanium with simulated body fluid. Nanostructures were created by electrochemical treatment in the fluoride ions containing environment. Several types of modified surfaces and polished surface as a blank were studied. Process of the interaction was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The surface state after exposure was assessed by scanning electron microscope and photoelectron spectroscopy. The influence of surface state on Ca-P compounds precipitation from simulated body fluid was confirmed. Precipitation was slowest on polished surface, even in a case of heat treated specimens. Process of precipitation was more pronounced on nanostructured surfaces and further improvement was stated after heat treatment. In this case Ca-P compound precipitated in the form clusters and completely covered the surface in a few days. Nanostructuring followed by a suitable heat treatment lead to visible improvement of hydroxyapatite precipitation.