Titanium Nanoscale Surface Characteristics Affect Osteoblastic Differentiation of HMSCs

Objectives: To investigate the effect of nanoscale versus nanoscale/micron rough titanium surface characteristics on osteoblast differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMCSs).
Methods: Titanium disks (6 × 2.0 mm) with different topographies s including F (nanofeatures), BF (nanofeatures on micron scale topography), OS (OsseoSpeed^TM) and M (Machined) were characterized and analyzed by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and XPS. hMSCs were cultured on the disks for 1 and 4 hours in regular growth medium and were stained with Phalloidin to study cell attachment and spreading using confocal microscopy. hMSCs were cultured on the disks for 1–28 days in osteogenic medium to assess osteoblastic differentiation biomarkers including Runx2, OSX, BMP2, BSP, OCN and ALP.
Results: Topographical evaluation confirmed distinct nanoscale/micron scale features of the different surfaces. Confocal microscopy images reveled that hMSCs respond and adopt to different surfaces in a distinct manner; spreading was greatest on MConclusions: Early increased osteoinductive gene expression on nanoscale surfaces (F) suggests direct topographic influence on adherent cells. The increased osteoblastic gene expression in cells adherent to surfaces with nanofeatures on a micron rough topography (BF, OS) occurs after 7 days in culture.