Surface studies of in vitro biocompatibility of titanium oxide coatings

Titanium oxide coatings are normally used for orthopaedic and dental prosth eses. Nevertheless, their chemical, biological and mechanical properties ca n be still improved by the development of new preparation technologies. In this paper a surface characterisation of the titanium oxide layer, grown on commercial Ti substrates by metal organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCV D) technique, is reported. The biocompatibility of the samples is tested up on in vitro treatment as a function of the exposure time. The surface chara cterisation of the titanium substrate and the oxide coatings is performed b y using different analytical techniques. Surface chemical composition and m orphology of the coatings are investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectrosc opy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning tunnelling micro scopy (STM). Quantitative XPS analysis and surface physical images show a g ood quality (cleanness, homogeneity, roughness) of the oxide coating deposi ted by MOCVD and the surface modifications induced by the interaction with osteoblast cells. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.