Contact Guidance Effect and Prevention of Microfouling on a Beta Titanium Alloy Surface Structured by Electron-Beam Technology

Abstract

Nano- and micro-structuring of implantable materials constitute a promising approach to introduce mechanical contact guidance effect, drive cells colonization, as well as to prevent bacteria adhesion and biofilm aggregation, through antifouling topography. Accordingly, this paper aims to extend the application of e-beam surface texturing and nano-structuring to the beta titanium alloys, which are of great interest for biomedical implants because of the low Young modulus and the reduction of the stress shielding effect. The paper shows that surface texturing on the micro-scale (micro-grooves) is functional to a contact guidance effect on gingival fibroblasts. Moreover, nano-structuring, derived from the e-beam surface treatment, is effective to prevent microfouling. In fact, human fibroblasts were cultivated directly onto grooved specimens showing to sense the surface micro-structure thus spreading following the grooves’ orientation. Moreover, Staphylococcus aureus colonies adhesion was prevented by the nano-topographies in comparison to the mirror-polished control, thus demonstrating promising antifouling properties. Furthermore, the research goes into detail to understand the mechanism of microfouling prevention due to nano-topography and microstructure.

Surface Functionalization of Ti6Al4V-ELI Alloy with Antimicrobial Peptide Nisin

“…with respect to the control sample after 16 h [ 33 ]. Additionally, this similar effect was previously obtained by the authors introducing a controlled nano-topography onto Ti alloys by electron beam technology that prevented aggregates formation through a physical hindrance [ 44 ]; here, the nisin seems to play a similar role but via biochemical induction acting as an anti-aggregation signal for adhered bacteria. Few comparable works can be found in the literature, but the presence of nisin was previously shown by Blackman et al [ 45 ] to reduce the surface contamination from bacterial aggregates in combination with a specific patterning as well as Kim et al [ 46 ] demonstrated that the presence of nisin conferred outstanding fouling resistance to ultrafiltration PDMA membranes when infected.…”

Effect of a Nanostructured Titanium Surface on Gingival Cell Adhesion, Viability and Properties against P. gingivalis

“…Fibroblasts are able to respond to the micro-and nanotopography of the substratum surface [43,44]. This phenomenon was first described in 1911 as 'contact guidance', meaning the orientation, alterations in cell shape, polarity and alignment of the cell dependent on the micro-or nanostructure of different surfaces [45]. In vitro experiments have also shown that fibroblasts also conform to the topography of the material surface, probably leading to mechanical interlocking [46].…”

Anticorrosion and Antimicrobial Tannic Acid-Functionalized Ti-Metallic Glass Ribbons for Dental Abutment

“…These results show that TA-functionalized Ti 60 Zr 20 Si 8 Ge 7 B 3 Sn 2 MG ribbons are safe as transmucosal parts of dental implants (abutments) for adhesion of the HGF cells and especially for the formation of a tight sealing with the abutment that is fundamental to preserving the implant site from infection. 61 To explain the cell-friendly behavior of the functionalized specimens, according to the previous studies, pyrogallol groups exposed by the tannic acid can enhance protein adsorption in the early adhesion phase as well as in the subsequent deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM); so, as a direct result, we hypothesize that cells are promoted to attach to the abutment surface through hydrogen bonds, electrostatic, and hydrophobic interactions. 62 Therefore, the functionalization presented here did not report any toxic effect preventing cells’ adhesion and spread.…”