Mechanism of adsorption of mucin to titanium in vitro

Issue title: 2nd International Conference on New Biomedical Materials, 5–8 April 2003, Cardiff, Wales, UK

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lori, J.A.^; | Nok, A.J.

Affiliations: Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria | Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Note: [] Corresponding author. Tel.: +234 80 33110268; Fax: +234 62 217219; E‐mail: josephlori@yahoo.co.uk.

Abstract: Mucin is the main salivary protein in the mouth of animals including man. The present study aims at investigating the role of electrostatic interactions in the adsorption of mucin to titanium in vitro. The binding profile of mucin to titanium was analyzed according to an adsorption isotherm. Mucin was dissolved and the solution suspended with native, calcium, magnesium, or potassium treated commercially pure Ti powder, at pH 3.0 and 7.4. The amount of unabsorbed protein in the supernatant fluid was measured. The maximum amount of adsorbed mucin was 0.11 mg/1.0 g of Ti. The mucin–Ti association constant was estimated to be 2.91 ml/mg. Pretreatment of Ti with calcium, or magnesium alone, or combined resulted in increased adsorption of mucin to Ti. No increase in adsorption was recorded following pretreatment of Ti with potassium. The results indicate the involvement of electrostatic interactions in the absorption of mucin to Ti.

Keywords: Mucin, protein‐binding, titanium absorption

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 557-563, 2004