Characterization of the properties of various modified titanium surfaces for dental implantology part 2: In vitro biocompatibility tests

The aim of the present study was to determine whether specific surface modi fications are capable of improving the biocompatibility of a titanium surfa ce, and whether there is a correlation between the physico-chemical propert ies of the implant material and its biocompatibility. To this end, the prop erties of titanium surfaces were modified using various methods or the latt er were coated with various materials. Plasma treatments under different at mospheric conditions (N-2-plasma, SO2-plasma, acetylene plasma) as well as plasma polymerization were used to affect the biological response. Characterization of the physico-chemical surface properties by means of X-r ay photoelectron spectroscopy (WS), contact angle measurements and the calc ulation of surface tensions or surface energy provided important informatio n on the interactions at the interface between the implant material and the aqueous environment. The influence of the respective surface modification on cell proliferation, cell viability and the activity of mitochondrial deh ydrogenases was evaluated in specific in vitro tests with human gingiva fib roblasts. It was show that different modifications of the titanium samples induce different biological responses of the gingiva fibroblasts. The resul ts confirm the existence of correlations between thermodynamic surface prop erties and cellular reactions under in vitro conditions.