Novel application of cytodetachment technology to the analysis of dental implant surfaces.

PURPOSE The present study introduced the application of cytodetachment technology--the examination of single cell responses to implant material surfaces--to the analysis of implant surfaces with a view to significantly improving upon conventional methods of studying cell interactions with implant surfaces. MATERIALS AND METHODS With the new cytodetachment technology, osteoblasts (MG-63) were allowed to attach to a surface, and a nanoprobe was positioned adjacent to the cell. The probe was then moved using a piezo-actuator to completely detach the cell. The detachment forces were calculated and analyzed statistically for three different groups of implant disks: a titanium (Ti) grit-blasted (TiOblast) surface (n = 15, group 1), a fluoride-modified (OsseoSpeed) surface (n = 15, group 2), and a machined titanium surface (n = 6, group 3). RESULTS The detachment force was slightly higher for the OsseoSpeed surface than the TiOblast surface, but this difference was not statistically significant. The detachment force on the machined surface was statistically significantly lower than that seen in the other groups, thus supporting the rationale that changes in surface properties would be reflected in the measured detachment force. The OsseoSpeed and TiOblast surfaces demonstrated stronger osteoblast adhesion compared to the machined titanium surface. CONCLUSIONS Within the limitations of this study, this report is a good proof-of-principle for the application of cytodetachment technology to testing implant surfaces. It might represent a new parameter to judge implant surface properties and might have broad applications in product development and research protocols for future implant surfaces.