Surface property and biocompatibility of Ti and Ti6Al4V for dental implants

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the surface propertity and biocompatibility of Ti and Ti6Al4V after the treatments of sandblasting by Al2O3 and etching by hydrochloric acid-sulfuric acid mixture. Surface morphology of samples was observed using scanning electron microscopy and the roughness and three-dimensional structures were detected by 3D laser scanning confocal microscope. Simulated body fluid (SBF) tests were conducted to compare the biocompatibility of the samples. The size of the contact angle was measured by a microscope using a measuring instrument. After sandblasting and acid etching, the surfaces of Ti and Ti6Al4V presented micron-size porous morphology and were hydrophilic. Even though microstructures of the alloys exhibited somewhat similar, the deposition of calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) on the surface of Ti6Al4V alloy was greater and faster than that of Ti, which is significant for dental implants. Sprague-Dawley rats were seeded on the surfaces of Ti and Ti6Al4V and their adhesion observed using Calcein-AM staining. Surface modification of Sandblasting and acid etching promoted bioactivity of Ti and Ti6Al4V surfaces, although sandblasted and acid-etched Ti6Al4V showed better biocompatibility than Ti.