Current Perspectives on Additive Manufacturing and Titanium Surface Nanotopography in Bone Formation

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of manufacturing methods (conventional and additive manufacturing) and surface treatments (polished and nanotopographic) on the physicochemical properties of Ti6Al4V alloy and their correlation with osteoblast cellular behavior. The groups examined were Machined Discs (MD), Machined Discs with Treatment (MD-WT), Additively Manufactured Discs (AD), and Additively Manufactured Discs with Treatment (AD-WT). Surface analyses included SEM, AFM, surface roughness, EDS, XRD, surface free energy, and zeta potential. MD displayed grooved topography, AD had partially fused spherical particles, and MD-WT and AD-WT showed patterns from chemical treatment (H3PO4+NaOH). EDS identified additional ions in MD-WT and AD-WT, while XRD patterns indicated crystal lattice orientation differences. MD-WT and AD-WT had higher surface free energy than MD and AD. AD exhibited greater roughness. Biological analyses revealed higher cell viability for MD and AD, higher ALP activity in MD, and lower in AD-WT. Gene expression varied, with MD showing higher Alpl, Ibsp, and Bglap, and AD-WT showing higher Runx2. Mineralized matrix behavior was similar for MD, AD, and MD-WT. MD and AD surfaces demonstrated superior osteogenic differentiation potential, while AD exhibited greater roughness, lower surface free energy, higher cell viability, and osteoblastic differentiation potential.

Keywords: Titanium dental implants, implant topography, osteoblastic cell behavior, additive manufacturing, surface characterization, physicochemical properties.