Effect of Laser Micromachining of Titanium on Viability and Responsiveness of Osteoblast-Like Cells

Objectives: Laser engineering may create hemispherical porosities on titanium surfaces obtaining regular and predetermined rough titanium surfaces. The aim of this study was to assess the viability and the proliferation of primary osteoblast-like cells (OB) to growth factors on titanium surfaces with a different roughness in vitro. Materials and Methods: OB were obtained from volunteers undergoing wisdom tooth removal following a standardized protocol. OB were allowed to attach on 4 different titanium surfaces: sandblasted titanium (SBT) disks, 5-, 10-, and 20-mu m regular laser-engineered micropore titanium disks. A well with no disk was used as control. Cell morphology was evaluated with scanning electron microscopy. Viability was measured with MTT (3[4,5 dimethylthiazol 2yl] 2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Proliferation rate of attached cells was evaluated with Cell Counting Kit-8 48 hours after platelet-released supernatant (PRS) application. Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance test. Results: All surfaces showed OB attachment on scanning electron microscopy. OB appeared more numerous on 20T surfaces. Laser-engineered surfaces showed higher OB viability than SBT (P < 0.01). In terms of proliferation, viability increase was noted for all groups after platelet-released supernatant application. 20T and SBT disks seemed to trigger the higher cellular proliferation (20T vs 10T, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Laser-engineered porous titanium surfaces promote viability and proliferation of OB. In particular, hemispherical porosity of 20 mu m seems to trigger the higher OB response. Further research is needed to confirm these data. (Implant Dent 2011;20:285-291)