Superficial treatment by anodization in order to obtain titanium oxide nanotubes applicable in implantology

Abstract

Titanium and its alloys are the most popular metals applied on end osseous implants manufacturing. Commercially pure titanium (Ti c.p.) has been successfully used as a biomaterial because of its mechanical and chemical properties, excellent corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. In order to improve and accelerate the osseointegration process after implantation, superficial treatments are performed aiming properties that stimulate the growth of the newly-formed bone. In this work, self organized titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes were obtained by anodic oxidation on Ti c.p. (grade 2). Also, it has been shown that the process is industrially reproducible for this purpose. As parameters for the anodizing process, it was concluded that the optimal electrolyte was H3PO4 solution + 0.15% HF under potentiostatic mode for 30 minutes. Potentials of 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 V were tested in order to verify the best conditions to obtain nanotubes. In this case, potential was set at 10V. The morphology of the samples was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Field Emission (SEM-FEG) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The results showed the nanotubes formation throughout the titanium samples surface. In accordance to the obtained roughness, it was observed that the formed nanotubes film is thin, however, the literature indicates that the film thickness is not relevant on the performance of nanostructures as optimizers of the osseointegration process, unlike the nanotubes morphology and diameter. In the wettability analysis, the nanotubes behaved as hydrophilic. Therefore, it is possible to obtain TiO2 nanotubes for using in implants by a superficial treatment, allowing a better osseointegration quality.

Keywords: Titanium, Nanotubes, Anodization, Implants, Osseointegration.