The aim of this study was to test the differentiative effects of osteoblasts after treatment with a static magnetic field (SMF). MG63 osteoblast-like cells were exposed to a 0.4-T SMF. The differentiation markers were assessed by observing the changes in alkaline phosphatase activity and electron microscopy images. Membrane fluidity was used to evaluate alterations in the biophysical properties of the cellular membranes after the SMF simulation. Our results show that SMF exposure increases alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular matrix release in MG63 cells. On the other hand, MG63 cells exposed to a 0.4-T SMF exhibited a significant increase in fluorescence anisotropy at 6 h, with a significant reduction in the proliferation effects of growth factors noted at 24 h. Based on these findings, the authors suggest that one of the possible mechanisms that SMF affects osteoblastic maturation is by increasing the membrane rigidity and reducing the proliferation-promoting effects of growth factors at the membrane domain.

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The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influences of titanium hydride on the formation of nanostructural titanium oxide by electrochemical treatment. The physico-chemical surface properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, thin film X-ray diffractometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Nanoporous structures were formed after anodization with cathodic pretreatments. The titanium hydride is formed by cathodic pretreatments. Titanium hydride was a sacrificial layer on titanium following anodization. The sacrificial layer has a ␥-TiH 2 phase. The ␥-TiH 2 is a tetragonal nanostructure and its lattice constant is a = 3.12 nm. Furthermore, it was formed within titanium matrices during cathodization. The nanostructural ␥-TiH 2 decomposes after anodization. Furthermore, the nanoporous Ti formed by dissolution of TiH 2 was changed to nanoporous TiO 2 . The TiH 2 plays an important role in forming nanoporous TiO 2 . The triangle-like ␥-TiH 2 was observed on the Ti matrix and grain boundary. In the ␥-Ti matrix, an ␥-Ti → ␥-TiH 2 transition occurred during cathodization. The anodization with cathodic pretreatment not only produces titanium hydride layer, but also results in formation of nanostructural titanium oxide. Nanoporous titania can be enhanced osseointegration of implant such as orthopedic and dental implants.