Osteoblast responses to thin nanohydroxyapatite coated on roughened titanium surfaces deposited by an electrochemical process.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate in vitro osteoblast responses to the thin nano-hydroxyapatite (HA) coating on porous implant surfaces.

Materials And Methods: Surface characteristics of nano-HA coating were evaluated by x-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Murine preosteoblast cell (MC3T3-E1) proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and osteocalcin release on nano-HA coated surfaces were compared with HA-coated surfaces.

Results: The XRD pattern demonstrated that the peak of nano-HA coating matched well with the standard HA patterns. FTIR spectra also showed that the coating consisted of pure HA crystals. Significant increases in cell proliferation, total protein on day 7, ALP activity on day 14 and day 21, and osteocalcin production on day 21 (P < .05) were observed for nano-HA coated surfaces.

Conclusions: It was concluded that thin nano-HA coating, deposited by the electrochemical process, improved proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts.