Apatite-forming ability of titanium compound nanotube thin films formed on a titanium metal plate in a simulated body fluid

Ag- and Sr-enriched nanofibrous titanium phosphate phases as potential antimicrobial cement and coating for a biomedical alloy

Biomaterials and their surfaces regulate the biological response and ultimately the quality of healing at a possible site of implantation. The physical, chemical and topographical properties of implants' surfaces play a decisive role in the biological integration process for their immediate loading and long-term success. Since at this level of biological interaction nano-dimensionality is basically entailed, bio-functional nanostructured composites either as filling/cement or coating to metallic implants are required. This study shows the possibility of synthesizing two phases of nanostructured titanium phosphate (π and ρ polymorphs) and enriching them with silver nanoparticles and strontium. More importantly, Ag-Sr-enriched nanostructured π‑titanium phosphate is induced to grow on a commercially available titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V), widely used in orthopedic and dental implants, under highly controlled conditions. Structural and microscopic studies, using XRD, HRTEM and SEM altogether confirm the resultant phases and their enrichment with strontium and silver nanoparticles with an average particle size around 6 nm. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, the surface roughness was measured and is found to lay at the interface between the nanosized and microsized topologies. Ion release assessments showed that the presence of strontium controlled the release rate of silver ions and this could be beneficial in terms of decreasing the accompanied cytotoxicity that is usually encountered at high concentrations of silver release. Antimicrobial and cell proliferation assays have proved that enriching titanium phosphate with strontium and silver nanoparticles has improved their antimicrobial properties, while the cytotoxicity could be controlled.

Thin Film Nanocomposite Membrane Filled with Metal-Organic Frameworks UiO-66 and MIL-125 Nanoparticles for Water Desalination

Knowing that the world is facing a shortage of fresh water, desalination, in its different forms including reverse osmosis, represents a practical approach to produce potable water from a saline source. In this report, two kinds of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) nanoparticles (NPs), UiO-66 (~100 nm) and MIL-125 (~100 nm), were embedded separately into thin-film composite membranes in different weight ratios, 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2%, and 0.3%. The membranes were synthesized by the interfacial polymerization (IP) of m-phenylenediamine (MPD) in aqueous solution and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) in an organic phase. The as-prepared membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), contact angle measurement, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy, and salt rejection and water flux assessments. Results showed that both UiO-66 and MIL-125 could improve the membranes’ performance and the impacts depended on the NPs loading. At the optimum NPs loadings, 0.15% for UiO-66 and 0.3% for MIL-125, the water flux increased from 62.5 L/m² h to 74.9 and 85.0 L/m² h, respectively. NaCl rejection was not significantly affected (UiO-66) or slightly improved (MIL-125) by embedding these NPs, always at >98.5% as tested at 2000 ppm salt concentration and 300 psi transmembrane pressure. The results from this study demonstrate that it is promising to apply MOFs NPs to enhance the TFC membrane performance for desalination.

A Thin Film Nanocomposite Membrane with MCM-41 Silica Nanoparticles for Brackish Water Purification

Thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes containing MCM-41 silica nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by the interfacial polymerization (IP) process. An m-phenylenediamine (MPD) aqueous solution and an organic phase with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) dissolved in isooctane were used in the IP reaction, occurring on a nanoporous polysulfone (PSU) support layer. Isooctane was introduced as the organic solvent for TMC in this work due to its intermediate boiling point. MCM-41 silica NPs were loaded in MPD and TMC solutions in separate experiments, in a concentration range from 0 to 0.04 wt %, and the membrane performance was assessed and compared based on salt rejection and water flux. The prepared membranes were characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), contact angle measurement, and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) analysis. The results show that adding MCM-41 silica NPs into an MPD solution yields slightly improved and more stable results than adding them to a TMC solution. With 0.02% MCM-41 silica NPs in the MPD solution, the water flux was increased from 44.0 to 64.1 L/m²·h, while the rejection virtually remained the same at 95% (2000 ppm NaCl saline solution, 25 °C, 2068 kPa (300 psi)).

Ultraviolet irradiation enhanced bioactivity and biological response of mesenchymal stem cells on micro-arc oxidized titanium surfaces

This present study investigated the effect of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on bioactivity of micro-arc oxidized (MAO) titanium surface in vitro by cell culture medium immersion test and interactions with rat-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). UV-irradiated MAO surface exhibited no obvious changes in surface roughness, morphology, and phase composition when compared with MAO-only surface. However, in cell culture medium immersion test, markedly more bone-like apatite was formed on UV-modified samples than on MAO sample. Rat bone marrow- and adipose tissue-derived MSCs cultured on UV-modified samples displayed accelerated attachment, significant higher levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and up-regulated osteogenesis-related mRNA expression than MAO sample. XPS results provided direct evidence that the amount of basic hydroxyl groups increased with UV irradiation time, which could be one of the key mechanisms underlying their improved bioactivity.

Antibacterial and bioactive calcium titanate layers formed on Ti metal and its alloys

An antibacterial and bioactive titanium (Ti)-based material was developed for use as a bone substitute under load-bearing conditions. As previously reported, Ti metal was successively subjected to NaOH, CaCl2, heat, and water treatments to form a calcium-deficient calcium titanate layer on its surface. When placed in a simulated body fluid (SBF), this bioactive Ti formed an apatite layer on its surface and tightly bonded to bones in the body. To address concerns regarding deep infection during orthopedic surgery, Ag(+) ions were incorporated on the surface of this bioactive Ti metal to impart antibacterial properties. Ti metal was first soaked in a 5 M NaOH solution to form a 1 μm-thick sodium hydrogen titanate layer on the surface and then in a 100 mM CaCl2 solution to form a calcium hydrogen titanate layer via replacement of the Na(+) ions with Ca(2+) ions. The Ti material was subsequently heated at 600 °C for 1 h to transform the calcium hydrogen titanate into calcium titanate. This heat-treated titanium metal was then soaked in 0.01-10 mM AgNO3 solutions at 80 °C for 24 h. As a result, 0.1-0.82 at.% Ag(+) ions and a small amount of H3O(+) ions were incorporated into the surface calcium titanate layers. The resultant products formed apatite on their surface in an SBF, released 0.35-3.24 ppm Ag(+) ion into the fetal bovine serum within 24 h, and exhibited a strong antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus. These results suggest that the present Ti metals should exhibit strong antibacterial properties in the living body in addition to tightly bonding to the surrounding bone through the apatite layer that forms on their surfaces in the body.

Synthesis and controllable wettability of micro- and nanostructured titanium phosphate thin films formed on titanium plates

The hydrothermal treatment of a titanium plate in a mixed aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and aqueous phosphoric acid under different conditions results in the formation of various titanium phosphate thin films. The films have various crystal structures such as Ti2O3(H2PO4)2·2H2O, α-titanium phosphate (Ti(HPO4)2·H2O), π-titanium phosphate (Ti2O(PO4)2·H2O), or low-crystallinity titanium phosphate and different morphologies that have not been previously reported such as nanobelts, microflowers, nanosheets, nanorods, or nanoplates. The present study also suggests the mechanisms behind the formation of these thin films. The crystal structure and morphology of the titanium phosphate thin films depend strongly on the concentration of the aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, the amount of phosphoric acid, and the reaction temperature. In particular, hydrogen peroxide plays an important role in the formation of the titanium phosphate thin films. Moreover, controllable wettability of the titanium phosphate thin films, including superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity, is reported. Superhydrophobic surfaces with controllable adhesion to water droplets are obtained on π-titanium phosphate nanorod thin films modified with alkylamine molecules. The adhesion force between a water droplet and the thin film depends on the alkyl chain length of the alkylamine and the duration of ultraviolet irradiation utilized for photocatalytic degradation.

The effects of different wavelength UV photofunctionalization on micro-arc oxidized titanium

Many challenges exist in improving early osseointegration, one of the most critical factors in the long-term clinical success of dental implants. Recently, ultraviolet (UV) light-mediated photofunctionalization of titanium as a new potential surface treatment has aroused great interest. This study examines the bioactivity of titanium surfaces treated with UV light of different wavelengths and the underlying associated mechanism. Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) titanium samples were pretreated with UVA light (peak wavelength of 360 nm) or UVC light (peak wavelength of 250 nm) for up to 24 h. UVC treatment promoted the attachment, spread, proliferation and differentiation of MG-63 osteoblast-like cells on the titanium surface, as well as the capacity for apatite formation in simulated body fluid (SBF). These biological influences were not observed after UVA treatment, apart from a weaker effect on apatite formation. The enhanced bioactivity was substantially correlated with the amount of Ti-OH groups, which play an important role in improving the hydrophilicity, along with the removal of hydrocarbons on the titanium surface. Our results showed that both UVA and UVC irradiation altered the chemical properties of the titanium surface without sacrificing its excellent physical characteristics, suggesting that this technology has extensive potential applications and merits further investigation.

Laminin Coating Promotes Calcium Phosphate Precipitation on Titanium Discs in vitro

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a laminin coating on calcium phosphate precipitation on three potentially bioactive titanium surfaces in simulated body fluid.

Material and Methods

Blasted titanium discs were prepared by alkali and heat treatment (AH), anodic oxidation (AO) or hydroxyapatite coating (HA) and subsequently coated with laminin. A laminin coated blasted surface (B) served as a positive control while a blasted non coated (B-) served as a negative control. Surface morphology was examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The analysis of the precipitated calcium and phosphorous was performed by Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX).

Results

The thickness of the laminin coating was estimated at 26 Å by ellipsometry. Interferometry revealed that the coating process did not affect any of the tested topographical parameters on µm level when comparing B to B-. After 2 weeks of incubation in SBF, the alkali-heat treated discs displayed the highest calcium phosphate deposition and the B group showed higher levels of calcium phosphate than the B- group.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that laminin may have the potential to be used as a coating agent in order to enhance the osseoinductive performance of biomaterial surfaces, with the protein molecules possibly functioning as nucleation centres for apatite formation. Nevertheless, in vivo studies are required in order to clarify the longevity of the coating and its performance in the complex biological environment.

In vitro Evaluation of Calcium Phosphate Precipitation on Possibly Bioactive Titanium Surfaces in the Presence of Laminin

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to evaluate calcium phosphate precipitation and the amount of precipitated protein on three potentially bioactive surfaces when adding laminin in simulated body fluid.

Material and Methods

Blasted titanium discs were prepared by three different techniques claimed to provide bioactivity: alkali and heat treatment (AH), anodic oxidation (AO) or hydroxyapatite coating (HA). A blasted surface incubated in laminin-containing simulated body fuid served as a positive control (B) while a blasted surface incubated in non laminin-containing simulated body fuid served as a negative control (B-). The immersion time was 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours and 1 week. Surface topography was investigated by interferometry and morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Analysis of the precipitated calcium and phosphorous was performed by Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and the adsorbed laminin was quantified by iodine (¹²⁵I) labeling.

Results

SEM demonstrated that all specimens except for the negative control were totally covered with calcium phosphate (CaP) after 1 week. EDX revealed that B- demonstrated lower sum of Ca and P levels compared to the other groups after 1 week. Iodine labeling demonstrated that laminin precipitated in a similar manner on the possibly bioactive surfaces as on the positive control surface.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that laminin precipitates equally on all tested titanium surfaces and may function as a nucleation center thus locally elevating the calcium concentration. Nevertheless further studies are required to clarify the role of laminin in the interaction of biomaterials with the host bone tissue.