Improvement of biological and mechanical properties of titanium surface by anodic oxidation

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Tang, Hao^a | Li, Ying^b | Ma, Jianwei^a | Zhang, Xianlin^a | Li, Baoe^{a; *} | Liu, Shimin^c | Dai, Fangfei^a | Zhang, Xiangqian^a

Affiliations: [a] School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300130, China | [b] Stomatological Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China | [c] Department of Gem and Material Technique, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. Tel.: +86 182 0228 7097; Fax: +86 226 0204 129; E-mail: libaoe@hotmail.com.

Abstract: A homogeneous and uniform array of nanotubes with a diameter of about 70 nm was produced on titanium (Ti) surface by anodic oxidation. The wall thickness of the nanotubes was around 20 nm, and the depth was about 200 nm. The biological properties of the anodized Ti surface were investigated by simulated body fluid (SBF) soaking test and in vitro cell culture test. The mechanical properties were evaluated by instrumented nanoindentation test and friction-wear test. The results showed that the anodized Ti surface can induce the formation of bone-like apatite after immersion in SBF for four weeks, enhance cell adhesion, proliferation and gene expression, it also showed decreased friction coefficient, similar stiffness and Young’s modulus to those of the cortical bone. Based on these results, it can be concluded that anodic oxidation endowed the Ti surface with improved biological and mechanical properties, which was attributed to the formation of nanostructured surface.

Keywords: Titanium, anodic oxidationm, mechanical properties, bioactivity, biocompatibility

DOI: 10.3233/BME-161602

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 27, no. 5, pp. 485-494, 2016