SURFACE-PROPERTIES AND BIO-ACCEPTABILITY OF TI2O3 SURFACES

TiO2 has been identified as a major and probably most desired surface for high bio-acceptability. South African manufactured implant surface s revealed that Ti2O3 is the predominant surface layer. Chemical surfa ce characteristics after evaluation of Ti2O3 surfaces using X-ray phot oelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) sho wed surfaces to be relatively free from contamination by unwanted chem ical elements. Surface layers of different Ti-core metals consisted ma inly of Ti. O and C. XPS analysis of surface oxide layers on all Ti-su rfaces showed mainly Ti2O3 and TiO in smaller quantities. When evaluat ing in vitro bio-acceptability, percentage attachment efficiency and p roliferation (%-AEP) of human fetal fibroblasts (HFF) and human gingiv al fibroblast (HGF) on Ti-surfaces showed that the Ti2O3-surface oxide furnished a highly bio-acceptable surface. Evaluation of attached HGF on Ti-surfaces using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed fibrob lasts attached and spread on Ti-surfaces by formation of numerous filo podia. Metal leaching as determined using inductively coupled plasma e mission spectroscopy (ICP) were practically absent for all Ti2O3-surfa ces. Absence of toxic metals (V, Pd) on surfaces prepared from Ti-6Al- 4V-alloy and Ti with Pd impurity, and practical absence of metal leach ing, indicated that these metals did not compete for oxidation of the surface and indicated a possible masking effect of the metal surface b y the Ti2O3-surface oxide layer. Implants with Ti2O3-surfaces are wide ly used in South Africa and have proved to be very successful. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.