Methods: The osteoblast-like cell line MG63 was cultured on 3 different surface which surface roughness was 0.38、1.00 and 2.14µm respectively. After 4 and 24h culture, the cells were stained with TRITC-labeled phalloidin and observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy; the cell proliferation was investigated with MTT assay; total protein content was calculated according to Comass brilliant blue staining, the activity of alkaline phsphatase (ALP) was measured by PNPP method, the production of Osteocalcin(OC) was detected by Osteocalcin ELISA; Changes in gene expression for Cbfa1 was measured by RT-PCR after 6h in culture.
Results: MG63 cells grew well on three different titanium surface; at 24 h, cells on titanium whose surface roughness was 1.00µm appeared more differentiated in shape and the margins of the cells were more irregular. Cell number are increasing on all discs; while cell proliferation was significant higher on titanium whose surface roughness was 1.00µm than that of 0.38 and 2.14µm (P＜0.05) ; There was no significant difference ( P >0. 05) among the groups in total protein content; An increase in ALP activity and OC production was detected on all disc surface on 1、5、10 and 15days (P<0.05), at the same time，ALP activity and OC production increased significantly on titanium whose surface roughness was 1.00µm (P<0.05); cbfa1 were upregulated (p<0.05) on titanium whose surface roughness was 1.00µm significantly at 6 h compared with other kinds of discs.
Conclusion: The results indicate that an average surface roughness of 1.00μm is more suitable than other surface roughness in favoring osteoblast differentiation in vitro, suggesting that might be inducing bone-formation early around dental implants in vivo.