Characterization of surface oxide films and cell toxicity evaluations with a quenched titanium surface

This study characterizes the surface of the oxide film that forms on titanium metal through the use of thermal and quenching treatments in cold water and investigates the effects of the surface characteristics and cellular interactions of a modified titanium surface. A range of sample groups were prepared in heat treatments of pure titanium at 600°C, 700°C, 800°C, 900°C, and 1000°C and subsequent quenching in cold water. The surface topography, roughness, crystallite size and crystal intensity were found to depend on the heating temperature. An increased surface roughness was observed with increases in the heating temperature and the quenching. The surface roughness was in the range of 0.15 μm-1.07 μm. In vitro cell responses were evaluated with mouse osteoblast MC3T3 cells in terms of cell proliferation and differentiation. MTT assays showed an increase in the living cell density and proliferation upon heating and quenching the titanium surface. The results of this study indicate that the cell toxicity was sensitive to the surface roughness and that it decreased as the roughness of the Ti increased.