In vitro evaluation of human osteoblast adhesion to a thermally oxidized [gamma]-TiAl intermetallic alloy of composition Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb (at.%)

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine Vol. 21; no. 5; p. 1739
• Main Authors: Bello, Samir A, de Jesús-Maldonado, Idaris, Rosim-fachini, Esteban, Sundaram, Paul A, Diffoot-carlo, Nanette
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer Nature B.V 01.05.2010
• Subjects: Biomedical materials; Cell adhesion & migration; Corrosion resistance; Materials science; Titanium aluminum alloys
• ISSN: 0957-4530; 1573-4838
• DOI: 10.1007/s10856-010-4016-6

Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb (at.%) ([gamma]-TiAl), a gamma titanium aluminide alloy originally designed for aerospace applications, appears to have excellent potential as implant material. Thermal treatment of [gamma]-TiAl renders this alloy extremely corrosion resistant in vitro, which could improve its biocompatibility. In this study, the surface oxides produced by thermal oxidation (at 500 degrees C, and at 800 degrees C for 1 h in air) on [gamma]-TiAl were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). hFOB 1.19 cell adhesion on thermally oxidized [gamma]-TiAl was examined in vitro by a hexosaminidase assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) after 1, 7 and 14 days. Ti-6Al-4V surfaces were used for comparison. Hexosaminidase assay data and CLSM analysis of focal contacts and cytoskeleton organization showed no differences in cell attachment on autoclaved and both heat-treated [gamma]-TiAl surfaces at the different time points. SEM images showed well organized multi-layers of differentiated cells adhered on thermally oxidized [gamma]-TiAl surfaces at day 14. Unexpectedly, thermally oxidized Ti-6Al-4V surfaces oxidized at 800 degrees C exhibited cytotoxic effects on hFOB 1.19 cells. Our results indicate that thermal oxidation of [gamma]-TiAl seems to be a promising method to generate highly corrosion resistant and biocompatible surfaces for implant applications. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]