Fabrication of anodized titanium with immobilization of hyaluronic acid to improve biological performance

Titanium (Ti) is used widely as a dental implant material in clinical dentistry and as an orthopedic implant material. Anodized titanium enhances the biocompatibility of Ti, which is improved further by hyaluronic acid (HA) immobilization on the anodized Ti surface. Plasma treatment of metal surfaces creates functional groups to introduce bioactive materials. This study evaluated a new bioactive functionalized Ti surface produced by immobilizing hyaluronic acid (HA) onto –NH2 functionalized anodizing Ti surfaces to improve the biological, physical and chemical properties of Ti. A porous microstructure was formed on Ti by anodizing, followed by the introduction of NH2 groups by plasma polymerization and immobilization of HA onto the –NH2 functionalized anodizing Ti surfaces.The samples were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscope. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured on each sample and the cell viability was examined using a MTT assay. 0.2–0.5 μm pores (approximately) were formed on the surfaces of titanium and HA was immobilized successfully with a covalent bond. The cell viability tests revealed significantly enhanced viability on the anodized and HA coated anodized metals than on the unanodized metals.