Gene expression of human osteoblasts cells on chemically treated surfaces of Ti-6Al-4V-ELI

The surface morphology was investigated using: scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser-scanning microscope (CLSM). Roughness measurements and effective surface area were obtained using the CLSM. Surface composition was analysed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The expression levels of some bone related genes (ALPL, COL1A1, COL3A1, SPP1, RUNX2, and SPARC) were analysed using real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (real-time RT-PCR). The results showed that all the chemical modifications studied in this work influenced the surface morphology, wettability, roughness, effective area and gene expression of human osteoblasts. Acid phosphoric combined to alkaline treatment presented a more accelerated gene expression after 7 days while the only phosphoric etching or chloride etching combined to alkaline treatment presented more effective responses after 15 days.