The significance of the surface properties of oxidized titanium to the bone response: special emphasis on potential biochemical bonding of oxidized titanium implant

The aim of the present study is to investigate bone tissue reactions to various surface oxide properties, in particular to different surface oxide chemistry of oxidized titanium implants (grade 1). One control and three test screw-shaped implant groups were prepared. Controls were turned implants. Test implants, i.e. S implants, P implants and Ca implants were by the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) method. The surface characterizations were performed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and TopScan 3D®. Eighty implants were inserted in the femora and tibiae of ten mature New Zealand white rabbits for 6 weeks. The removal torque values (RTQ) showed significant differences between S implants and controls (p=0.022), Ca implants and controls (p=0.0001), Ca implants and P implants (p=0.005) but did not show significant differences between the others (p>0.05). In addition, the bone to metal contact (BMC) around the entire implants demonstrated 186% increase in S implants, 232% increase in P implants and 272% increase in Ca implants when compared to the paired control groups. Based on the comparative analysis of the surface characteristics resulting different bone responses between all groups, it was concluded that surface chemistry and topography separately or together play important roles in the bone response to the oxidized implants.