SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF PASSIVATED TITANIUM IN A PHYSIOLOGICAL SOLUTION

Titanium (Ti) has been used for many biomedical applications. Surface characteristics of titanium devices are critical to their success. In this study, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (X PS) were used to analyse Ti surfaces prior to immersion in alpha-modif ication of Eagle's medium (alpha-MEM). The ionic constituents deposite d onto Ti surfaces after in vitro exposure to alpha-MEM were investiga ted using XPS and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Surf ace studies revealed an amorphous oxide layer on the Ti surface, with a chemistry similar to TiO2. However, after exposure to the physiologi c solution for 12 days, dynamic changes in surface chemistry were obse rved. ions such as phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) were increasingly d eposited as amorphous fine crystalline calcium-phosphate(Ca-P) compoun ds, having a Ca/P ratio of 1.2 and a chemistry similar to brushite.