Osteogenic and bactericidal surfaces from hydrothermal titania nanowires on titanium substrates

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 36857
• Main Authors: Tsimbouri, P. M., Fisher, L., Holloway, N., Sjostrom, T., Nobbs, A. H., Meek, R. M. D, Su, B., Dalby, M. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 18.11.2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 13/106; 13/51; 14/28; 45/90; 631/80/83; 692/308/1426; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial infections; Biocompatible Materials - pharmacology; Biofilms; Bone growth; Bone remodeling; Bone-Implant Interface; Cell differentiation; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Confocal microscopy; Electron microscopy; Health risks; Histochemistry; Histocytochemistry; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Immunofluorescence; Infections; Microbial Viability - drug effects; Microscopy, Confocal; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Fluorescence; multidisciplinary; Nanotechnology; Nanowires; Osteoblastogenesis; Osteoblasts - drug effects; Osteoblasts - physiology; Osteoclastogenesis; Osteoclasts - drug effects; Osteoclasts - physiology; Osteogenesis - drug effects; Polymerase chain reaction; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Scanning electron microscopy; Science; Surface Properties; Titanium; Titanium - pharmacology; Titanium dioxide; Transplants & implants
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep36857

Nanotopographical cues on Ti have been shown to elicit different cell responses such as cell differentiation and selective growth. Bone remodelling is a constant process requiring specific cues for optimal bone growth and implant fixation. Moreover, biofilm formation and the resulting infection on surgical implants is a major issue. Our aim is to identify nanopatterns on Ti surfaces that would be optimal for both bone remodelling and for reducing risk of bacterial infection. Primary human osteoblast/osteoclast co-cultures were seeded onto Ti substrates with TiO 2 nanowires grown under alkaline conditions at 240 °C for different times (2, 2.5 or 3 h). Cell growth and behaviour was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), immunofluorescence microscopy, histochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR methods. Bacterial colonisation of the nanowire surfaces was also assessed by confocal microscopy and SEM. From the three surfaces tested the 2 h nanowire surface supported osteoblast and to a lesser extent osteoclast growth and differentiation. At the same time bacterial viability was reduced. Hence the 2 h surface provided optimal bone remodeling in vitro conditions while reducing infection risk, making it a favourable candidate for future implant surfaces.