Rapid hierarchical structuring of titanium surface by modulated fiber laser: Protecting the native surface chemistry

• Protecting native surface chemistry after laser surface structuring.
• Hierarchical structuring of titanium surface (nano and micro).
• Enhanced wetting properties via surface roughness enhancement.
• Increased potential to use as rapid implant modification.
• Possibility to enhance the osteoconductivity of the Ti and Ti alloy implants.

Sand blasting and acid etching are the most common methods used to increase the roughness of orthopedic and dental implants for better osseointegration. However, possible process related contaminations remaining from these methods may cause an uncertainty if the cells are responding to the surface roughness or to the chemical residues. On the other hand, since it is clear that the presence of top native oxide layer of Ti implants is the primary step for better osseointegration, it is necessary to modify the surfaces residue free where the lasers can be the solution. In this respect, commercially pure Ti samples were structured with hierarchical micro and nano features by using modulated microsecond pulsed fiber laser while the surface is protected to its native chemistry. Surfaces were analyzed for their chemistries, roughness and wetting properties prior and subsequent to the structuring process.