Alkalescent nanotube films on a titanium-based implant: A novel approach to enhance biocompatibility

The interfacial pH value has a marked effect on cell viability because the pro-mineralization activity of osteoblasts increases at alkaline extracellular pH, whereas the pro-resorptive activity of osteoclasts increases under more acidic conditions. To obtain the more favorable alkaline interface, we developed a novel nanotube layer that was incorporated with magnesium oxide on a titanium implant substrate (MgO/NT/Ti) via ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) chelation. This facile immersion-annealing process successfully created a homogeneous magnesium oxide layer with sustained release kinetics and superior hydrophilicity according to the surface characterization and microenvironment measurement. The titania nanotubes on the substrate with an anatase phase exhibited a lower passivation current and a more positive corrosion potential compared with pure titanium, which guaranteed a reasonable corrosion resistance, even when it was wrapped with a magnesium oxide layer. In vitro cell cultures showed that MgO/NT/Ti significantly increased cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. The resulting alkalescent microenvironment created by the MgO layer encouraged the cells to spread into polygonal shapes, accelerated the differentiation stage to osteoblast and induced a higher expression of vinculin. In summary, the incorporated alkalescent microenvironment of MgO/NT/Ti provided a viable approach to stimulate cell proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation and to improve the implant osseointegration.