Surface oxide net charge of a titanium alloy: modulation of fibronectin-activated attachment and spreading of osteogenic cells

In the current study, we have altered the surface oxide properties of a Ti6Al4V alloy using heat treatment or radiofrequency glow discharge (RFGD) in order to evaluate the relationship between the physico-chemical and biological properties of the alloy's surface oxide. The effects of surface pretreatments on the attachment of cells from two osteogenic cell lines (MG63 and MC3T3) and a mesenchymal stem cell line (C3H10T1/2) to fibronectin adsorbed to the alloy were measured. Both heat and RFGD pretreatments produced a several-fold increase in the number of cells that attached to fibronectin adsorbed to the alloy at a range of coating concentrations (0.001-10nM FN) for each cell line tested. An antibody (HFN7.1) directed against the central integrin binding domain of fibronectin produced a 65-70% inhibition of cell attachment to fibronectin-coated disks, indicating that cell attachment to the metal discs was dependent on fibronectin binding to cell integrin receptors. Both treatments also accelerated the cell spreading response manifested by extensive flattening and an increase in mean cellular area. The treatment-induced increases in the cell attachment activity of adsorbed fibronectin were correlated with previously demonstrated increases in Ti6Al4V oxide negative net surface charge at physiological pH produced by both heat and RFGD pretreatments. Since neither treatment increased the adsorption mass of fibronectin, these findings suggest that negatively charged surface oxide functional groups in Ti6Al4V can modulate fibronectin's integrin receptor activity by altering the adsorbed protein's conformation. Our results further suggest that negatively charged functional groups in the surface oxide can play a prominent role in the osseointegration of metallic implant materials.     

Effect of UV irradiation on the surface Gibbs energy of Ti6Al4V and thermally oxidized Ti6Al4V

Thermal oxidation of Ti6Al4V increases the thickness, modifies the structure, and changes the amount of alloying elements of the surface titanium dioxide layer with respect to the spontaneous passive layer of Ti6Al4V. The effects on the surface properties of Ti6Al4V and thermally oxidized Ti6Al4V after different periods of UV irradiation have been studied by measurement of water, formamide, and diiodomethane contact angles. The rate of modification of the water contact angle with the irradiation time is dependent on the surface treatment, but the water adhesion work, after an initial energetic step, follows a similar trend for both. Application of the Young equation together with the van Oss approach allowed evaluation of the surface Gibbs energy of the alloys. Similar to the water adhesion work, the surface Gibbs energy dependence on the irradiation time follows a similar trend for both samples and it is due to the change of the electron-donor parameter of the acid-base component. Also, a linear relationship common for both samples has been obtained between the cosines of the water contact angle and the formamide or diiodomethane contact angle. These facts indicate that the surface modification continuously produced by the UV irradiation is similar all along the process and similar for both samples after an energetic threshold for the thermally oxidized sample. It has been also tested that the hydrophilic-hydrophobic conversion is reversible for Ti6Al4V and Ti6Al4V thermally treated.     

Interfacial and bulk processes during oxide growth on titanium in ethylene glycol-based electrolytes

Anodic oxidation has proven to be a promising route for the growth of self-ordering oxide nanotubes on Ti, the best results being obtained in ethylene glycol (EG)-based electrolytes with the addition of fluoride and small amounts of water. In the present paper, emphasis is put on the investigation of barrier film growth and dissolution on Ti in EG electrolytes with the addition of H₂O (0.3–2.4 M) and NH₄F (0.015–0.17 M) using electrochemical and surface analytical techniques. Steady-state current–potential curves and electrochemical impedance spectra as depending on potential (?0.1/5.0 V vs. AgCl/Ag), water and fluoride content have been registered. In addition, the chemical composition of the surface of the oxides obtained at 0.1 and 1.0 V has been estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis revealed the presence of a non-stoichiometric oxide containing mainly Ti⁴⁺ and a certain amount of Ti³⁺, with a certain degree of hydroxylation. Estimates of the total thickness of the oxide from the XPS data using a dual layer model are also presented. A kinetic model of the process is advanced to quantitatively interpret the electrochemical and surface analytical results.     

Characterization of the adsorption of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ω</Emphasis>-(thiophene-3-yl alkyl) phosphonic acid on metal oxides with AR-XPS

The aim of the work discussed in this paper was to characterize adsorbed self-assembled monolayers on different metal oxide substrates with angle-resolved XPS measurements. The substrates used were silicon wafers (100) coated with 300 nm Al, Ta, or Ti. They were coated with acids by immersing them in an ethanol solution. The orientation of long-chain organic acids adsorbed on metal oxides has been successfully identified by angle-resolved XPS. On Al, Ta, and Ti substrates, C₁₁ chains are orientated in the right manner, i.e. with the phosphonic group at the bottom and the thiophene group on top. The orientations of the C₂ and C₆ chains are not clear. The thickness of the layers could be obtained by using Tougaard nanostructure analysis, and it shows monolayers. A model of the chemical bonds between the phosphonic group and the metal could be developed from the chemical shift. For titanium, all three P–O bonds bind to the metal substrate, whereas only the P–O(H) bond binds to the metal on aluminium and tantalum.     

XPS法测量铝箔表面氧化铝的厚度

介绍了一种无需溅射、无需变角，只需一次简单的ＸＰＳ（Ｘ射线光电子能谱）窄扫描，即可根据谱图中氧化态和金属态的相对强度算出铝金属表面氧化铝的厚度。用该法测量了一系列不同方法处理的铝表面氧比铝厚度，并与椭偏法及ＮＲＡ法（核反应分析法）测定结果进行了对比，结果表明，该法是一种简便准确的膜厚测量法。     

Characterization of oxide layers on Ti6Al4V and titanium by streaming potential and streaming current measurements

Titanium and titanium alloys (e.g. Ti6Al4V) are increasingly used as medical implant materials in a wide variety of applications. So far, many surface properties of the passive layer considered to explain interactions with biological tissues are deduced from those of the crystalline phases of titanium dioxide (anatase, rutile, brookite), but do not necessarily correspond to those of naturally formed amorphous passive layers. We report on streaming potential and streaming current measurements on oxide layers on Ti6Al4V and Ti, carried out using a microslit electrokinetic set-up (MES) and a commercial electrokinetic analyzer (EKA, PAAR). Passive and anodic oxide layers on Ti6Al4V, as well as passive layers on titanium sputtered on glass, were investigated in this study. Isoelectric points (IEP) of ≈4.4 were found for all oxide layers. The IEP of the air-formed passive layer on Ti6Al4V did not depend on the KCl concentration. Hence, it was concluded that IEP is here identical to the point of zero charge (pzc). Controversially, the charge formation process seems to depend on the chloride ion concentration in the neutral and basic pH region.     

Biomimetic apatite formation and biocompatibility on chemically treated Ti‐6Al‐7Nb alloy

Alkali treatment of the Ti‐6Al‐7Nb alloys with subsequent heat treatment has been adopted as an important surface treatment procedure for apatite formation in dental implants. This study examined the effects of alkali treatment on the precipitation of apatite on a Ti‐6Al‐7Nb alloy. All samples were immersed in a Hanks' Balanced Salts Solution [simulated body fluid (SBF)] at pH 7.4 and 36.5 °C for 15 days. The surface structural changes of samples due to the alkali treatment and immersing in SBF were analyzed by XRD, SEM and XPS. The cell toxicity was evaluated based on the optical density of the surviving cells. The samples were implanted into the abdominal connective tissue of mice for 4 weeks. A sodium titanate hydrogel layer was formed after immersion in an NaOH solution. A dense and uniform bone‐like apatite layer precipitated on the alkali and heat‐treated Ti‐6Al‐7Nb alloy in the SBF. There was a significant difference in cell toxicity between the treated and untreated Ti‐6Al‐7Nb (P < 0.05). The thickness of the fibrous capsule formed around the implant body was decreased significantly by the alkali and heat treatment (P < 0.05). The alkali treatment samples showed a better biocompatibility than the commercial metal samples. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱(ICP-AES)法测定铸造用硅砂中的Fe2O3、Al2O3、CaO、MgO、TiO2、K2O、Na2O

建立了电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱(ICP-AES)法测定铸造用硅砂中Fe_2O_3、Al_2O_3、CaO、MgO、TiO_2、K_2O、Na_2O的方法。研究了溶样方法的选择优化,采用硝酸、氢氟酸溶样,冒高氯酸处理,通过元素分析线的选择,基体和共存元素影响的消除,在最佳的仪器分析条件下得出了方法的线性范围、相关系数及检出限。用硅砂3个梯度含量的标准物质的分析结果评价方法的准确度和精密度。方法的检出限Fe为0.012μg/mL、Al为0.032μg/mL、Ca为0.27μg/mL、Mg为0.003 2μg/mL、Ti为0.002 1μg/mL、K为0.16μg/mL,Na为0.000 44μg/mL。5次数据的相对标准偏差说明方法稳定性较好。方法适用于铸造用硅砂中Fe_2O_3、Al_2O_3、CaO、MgO、TiO_2、K_2O、Na_2O含量的测定。     

Characteristics of morphology,structure and composition of titanium surface under its modification by electrochemical polarization in phosphate‐alkaline solutions

The modification of titanium surface under electrochemical polarization (EP) in the phosphate‐alkaline solutions has been studied using the methods of X‐ray diffraction, electron probe microanalysis, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry and spectroscopic ellipsometry. It is shown that the morphological parameters of the surface, e.g. roughness and stringiness, as well as its structural‐chemical characteristics, e.g. preferred orientation, size and habit of crystallites, titanium chemical forms, thickness and phase composition of oxide film are generally dependent on the polarization potential. The characteristics of titanium surface modified at low anodic potentials 500, 750 and 1000 mV and 10‐min polarization time have been measured. The processes of Ti surface dissolution and etching along grain boundaries are found to be most intensive at 750 mV. Under 500 mV, these processes are poorly developed yet, while at 1000 mV, the surface passivating film formation limits the previous processes. Despite relatively low polarization potentials (1 V), the surficial oxide films have sufficient thickness (up to ~20 nm) and a specific multilayer structure of variable composition and oxidation state of titanium. The data obtained allow to assert that EP represents an effective tool for morphological and a structural chemical modification of a titanium surface. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface analysis of titanium based biomaterials

The objective of the present study was the defined preparation and characterization of various oxide layers on titanium, Ti6Al7Nb and Ti6Al4V. Immobilization techniques for collagen and hydroxyapatite Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂, the main components contacting an implant within the human body, were tested. The oxide layers were created by electrochemical polarization in phosphate buffer solutions. The thickness of the layers depended on the formation potential. We found a thickness/potential relation of approximately 2.2 nm/V. At formation potentials up to 80 V anatase was the only titanium dioxide modification traceable by Raman spectroscopy and XRD. The electrochemically assisted deposition of hydroxyapatite on these surfaces starts with an amorphous product which can be monitored by SEM, IR and Raman spectroscopy. The immobilization of collagen followed by anodic electrochemical polarization results either in partial integration of collagen fibrils into the oxide layer or at least in a strong increase of the interaction force between TiO₂ and the collagen fibrils.     

Effect of Molybdenum (Mo) Addition on Phase Composition,Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties of Pre-Alloyed Ti6Al4V Using Spark Plasma Sintering Technique

The effect of molybdenum additions on the phases, microstructures, and mechanical properties of pre-alloyed Ti6Al4V was studied through the spark plasma sintering technique. Ti6Al4V-xMo (where x = 0, 2, 4, 6 wt.% of Mo) alloys were developed, and the sintered compacts were characterized in terms of their phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties. The results show that the equiaxed primary alpha and Widmänstatten (alpha + beta) microstructure in pre-alloyed Ti6Al4V is transformed into a duplex and globular model with the increasing content of Mo from 0 to 6%. The changing pattern of the microstructure of the sample strongly influences the properties of the material. The solid solution hardening element such as Mo enhances mechanical properties such as yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, ductility, and hardness compared with the pre-alloyed Ti6Al4V alloy.     

TiO2表面包覆SiO2和Al2O3的机理和结构分析

在二氧化钛的表面上包覆一层保护膜,使二氧化钛的表面和周围介质之间产生屏障,从而降低二氧化钛的光化学活性,有利于提高二氧化钛的分散性、耐光性、耐候性和抗粉化性.     

Ti6Al4V foams having nanotubular surfaces for orthopaedic applications

Despite the widespread use of Ti6Al4V in orthopaedics, the bioinert nature of this alloy limits its biological fixation with the bone tissue. To enhance its bone fixation, two different types of Ti6Al4V foams were fabricated, and their surfaces were modified zto possess nanofeatures. To prepare the foams, spherical- or irregular-shaped Ti6Al4V particles were used to form the backbones of the foams, while magnesium or carbamide powders were used as space holder agents. Once Ti6Al4V foams were fabricated, oxide-based nanotubular arrays having 40 nm diameter were formed on the interconnected pore surfaces via anodization. Results showed successful growth of nanotubular oxide arrays independent of the pore surface morphology, chemistry, and porosity content. Nanotubular surfaces induced formation of calcium phosphate minerals independent of the Ti6Al4V particle type and the space holder agent. Thus, anodized nanotubular Ti6Al4V foams could potentially induce enhanced integration of Ti6Al4V-based porous implants with the bone tissue.     

Preparation and study of bi-supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst with nano graphene oxide and magnesium ethoxide supports for polymerization of polyethylene

In this study, we have reported the preparation of bi-supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts using magnesium ethoxide and graphene oxide as support. The polymerization process was carried out in slurry phase using triisobutylaluminum as a co-catalyst.The XRD analysis of TiCl₄/graphene oxide/Mg(OEt)₂ catalyst demonstrated that the space between the layers of graphene oxide had increased to 0.2 nm.The catalyst was characterized by XPS, BET, BJH, SEM, and TGA. The catalyst activity was studied for various Al/Ti molar ratios, and the catalyst activity was optimum at Al/Ti molar ratio of 315.     

Effects of thermal treatment on hydrophilicity and corrosion resistance of Ti surface

Surface treatment of titanium (Ti) surface has been extensively studied to improve its properties for biomedical applications, including hydrophilicity, corrosion resistance, and tissue integration. In this present work, we present the effects of thermal oxidation as surface modification method on metallic titanium (Ti). The Ti foils were oxidized at 300°C, 400°C, 500°C, and 600°C under air atmosphere for 3 hours, which formed oxide layer on Ti surface. The physicochemical properties including surface chemistry, roughness, and thickness of the oxide layer were evaluated in order to investigate how these factors affected surface hydrophilicity, microhardness, and corrosion resistance properties of the Ti surface. The results revealed that surfaces of all oxidized samples were modified by formation of titanium dioxide layer, of which morphology, phase, and thickness were changed according to the oxidized temperatures. Increasing oxidation temperature led to the formation of thicker oxide layer and phase transformation of anatase to rutile. The presence of the oxide layer helped the improvement of corrosion resistance and microhardness. The most improvement in surface roughness was found in the specimens treated at 400°C, which significantly improved surface hydrophilicity. But both surface roughness and hydrophilicity reduced when oxidized at 500°C and 600°C, suggesting that hydrophilicity was dominated by the surface roughness. In addition, this surface treatment did not reduce the biocompatibility of the metallic Ti substrates against murine osteoblasts (MC3T3).     

A study of ruthenium electrodes by cyclic voltammetry and X-ray emission spectroscopy

Hydrogen and oxygen adsorption properties of ruthenium surfaces are characterized and shown to be analogous to those of other noble metals. Ruthenium dissolves on potential cycles, the rate of dissolution on cycles to 1.54 V being much greater than for Pd, Rh, Ir, Pt and Au. Treatment in hot chromic acid or potential cycling to 1.3 V or above results in significant changes in the voltammogram. X-ray emission spectroscopy has demonstrated that these changes are associated with the formation and growth of an oxygen-containing layer on the ruthenium surface. Electron micrographic analysis of the surface layer included in replicas revealed that the layer is essentially amorphous. Correlations between the thickness of the layer from replica shadowing experiments and X-ray emission measurements indicated that the composition of the layer at 0.03 V was predominantly RuO with a considerable degree of non-stoichiometry. The charge on the voltammogram when oxide is present is interpreted in terms of oxidation of hydrated RuO to hydrated RuO₂ by a mechanism involving the addition and removal of protons, with corresponding changes in the valence state of the metal atom. Comparisons are made with the properties of thermally-produced RuO₂.     

铂基Pb-Sb表面合金电催化剂的制备与结构表征

通过电化学方法,在玻碳载体表面制备以Pt、Pb、Sb为主要成分的铂基Pb Sb表面合金电催化剂.运用电化学循环伏安、石英晶体微天平（EQCM）和扫描隧道显微镜（STM）技术对催化剂电极进行表征.结果表明：酸性溶液中在所制备的表面合金电极上,析氢起始电位负移至－0.45 V,表面合金的起始氧化电位为0.15 V,其稳定性明显高于电催化还原中常用的铅、锑等金属电极.通过EQCM研究表面合金电极的形成过程,结合STM观察和XPS深度剖析,确定电催化剂表面是由粒度均匀的纳米颗粒构成的表面合金层.     

Synthesis of Specially Designed Adhesion Promoter for Grafting Polypyrrole

Summary: Adhesion of conducting polymers to the metal/metal oxide surfaces is not strong. An attempt was made to modify these reactive metal surfaces by N-derivatised pyrroles. ω-(pyrrol-1-yl alkyl) phosphonic acids with different chain lengths were successfully synthesized and characterized. These derivatives were studied for their adsorption and self-assembling phenomena onto Ti/TiO₂, Ta/Ta₂O₅ and Al/Al₂O₃. Various analytical tools were used to characterize the modified surface. Contact angle measurements indicated an increase in hydrophobicity after adsorption that was further confirmed by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) studies showed that the molecules are oriented in a fashion such that phosphonic acid group is attached to the metal surface and pyrrole is pointing away from the surface. The oxidation potential of these derivatives was higher than pyrrole as expected. Surface polymerisation was successfully attempted on the modified metal substrates. The polymerised surface was examined under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The new compounds not only function as self-assembling molecules, they also exhibit a new class of reactive functionalized derivatives that can be used as monomers for polymerisation.     

Sn改性TS－1分子筛催化苯酚和草酸二甲酯合成草酸二苯酯

 使用Sn改性的TS－1分子筛催化苯酚和草酸二甲酯的酯交换反应合成草酸二苯酯，深入研究了不同Sn负载量TS－1分子筛的结构及催化性能．实验结果表明，由于Sn和以Ti－O－SiO3为中心的弱Lewis酸的协同催化作用，与未改性的TS－1分子筛催化剂相比，改性后的催化剂虽 然Lewis酸量有明显下降，但催化剂的催化性能明显提高．当Sn的负载量为2％时，草酸二甲酯的转化率达到50．3％，目的产物的选择性为99．2％．利用X射线衍射、X射线光电子能谱和X射线能量分散谱考察了Sn在TS－1分子筛表面的结构和分散状态及其与酯交换反应催化性能的关系．结果表明，当Sn的负载量低于2％时，SnO2以非晶态形式分散在TS－1表面；而当Sn负载量高于2％时，SnO2以微晶的形式存在，此时Sn原子与Ti原子的协同作用已经不明显，催化剂的催化性能反而下降．     

A comparative XPS and UPS study of VOx layers on mineral TiO2(001)‐anatase supports

Four vanadium oxide layers on mineral TiO₂(001)‐anatase supports with different thickness (3–33 Å) were prepared with reactive d.c. magnetron sputtering and were extensively studied with photoelectron spectroscopy. Al Kα radiation and 150 eV synchrotron radiation were used as excitation sources. The evolution of the 2p, 3s and 3p core level line shapes of V and Ti as a function of the vanadium oxide thickness was studied, as well as the O1s and O2s core lines and the valence band. All the V2p spectra of the deposited vanadium oxide layers consist of at least 60% V⁵⁺, the rest being V⁴⁺. The V3p region is complicated by multiplet splitting, which prevents the determination of the vanadium oxidation state. The V3p multiplet splitting is different for the two excitation energies. No reduction of the titania support surface due to the vanadium oxide deposition was observed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.