Effect of the surface geometry of smooth and porous-coated titanium alloy on the orientation of fibroblasts in vitro.

The migration and orientation of human gingival fibroblasts in relation to the rim of smooth-surfaced and porous-coated titanium discs placed on multilayers in vitro was investigated. Samples were examined after 6 h, 24 h, 3 days, and 7 days of culture using phase-contrast and scanning electron microscopy. The cells migrated from the multilayer onto the smooth-surfaced discs forming bridges between them, and orientated along parallel circumferential grooves in the rim of the discs. This resulted in the cellular bridges orientating at an acute angle to the rim of the disc, and adjacent cells in the multilayer orientating parallel to the rim. Cellular bridges were also formed between the porous-coated discs and the multilayer but, because the cells that migrated onto, and between, the spheres of the porous-coat showed no preferred orientation, the bridges retained their orientation at right angles to the surface of the rim. This in turn resulted in the cells of the adjacent multilayer becoming similarly orientated. These observations suggest that the geometrical configuration of the surface of implants could influence whether a capsule or an orientated fibrous attachment is developed in relation to implants in vivo.