Titania Nanofiber Scaffolds with Enhanced Biointegration Activity—Preliminary In Vitro Studies

Abstract

The increasing need for novel bone replacement materials has been driving numerous studies on modifying their surface to stimulate osteogenic cells expansion and to accelerate bone tissue regeneration. The goal of the presented study was to optimize the production of titania-based bioactive materials with high porosity and defined nanostructure, which supports the cell viability and growth. We have chosen to our experiments TiO2 nanofibers, produced by chemical oxidation of Ti6Al4V alloy. Fibrous nanocoatings were characterized structurally (X-ray diffraction (XRD)) and morphologically (scanning electron microscopy (SEM)). The wettability of the coatings and their mechanical properties were also evaluated. We have investigated the direct influence of the modified titanium alloy surfaces on the survival and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue (ADSCs). In parallel, proliferation of bone tissue cells—human osteoblasts MG-63 and connective tissue cells - mouse fibroblasts L929, as well as cell viability in co-cultures (osteoblasts/ADSCs and fibroblasts/ADSCs has been studied. The results of our experiments proved that among all tested nanofibrous coatings, the amorphous titania-based ones were the most optimal scaffolds for the integration and proliferation of ADSCs, fibroblasts, and osteoblasts. Thus, we postulated these scaffolds to have the osteopromotional potential. However, from the co-culture experiments it can be concluded that ADSCs have the ability to functionalize the initially unfavorable surface, and make it suitable for more specialized and demanding cells.