In vitro osteoblast response to anodized titanium and anodized titanium followed by hydrothermal treatment.

In this study, Titanium (Ti) surfaces were modified using anodization. The electrolyte used for anodization was a mixture of calcium glycerophosphate and calcium acetate. The anodized surfaces were divided into three groups. Hydrothermal treatments were performed on two of the anodized groups for either 2 or 4 h. In vitro osteoblast response to anodized oxide and the hydrothermal treated oxide after anodization was evaluated in this study. Calcium and phosphorus ions were deposited on the Ti oxide during anodization. Anodized surfaces following a 4-h hydrothermal treatment were observed to promote the growth apatite-like crystals as compared with anodized surfaces after a 2-h hydrothermal treatment. Cellular function and onset of mineralization, as indicated by protein production and osteocalcin production, respectively, also were observed as enhanced on hydrothermal-treated surfaces. It was thus concluded from this study that calcium phosphate and apatite-like crystals could be deposited on Ti surfaces using anodization and a combination of anodization and hydrothermal treatment. It was also concluded that the phenotypic expression of osteoblast was enhanced by the presence of calcium phosphate or apatite-like crystals on anodized or hydrothermally treated Ti surfaces. Copyright 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.