Efficacy of bone defect therapy involving various surface treatments of titanium alloy implants: an in vivo and in vitro study

Multiple surface treatment methods for titanium alloy prostheses, widely used in orthopedics, are available; however, these can affect bone integration and regeneration efficiency. In this study, through cell and animal experiments, we devised seven bone implant categories of Ti6Al4V based on surface preparation and post-processing technology (polishing, grit-blasting, fine titanium spraying, coarse titanium spraying, electron beam melting [EBM] printing, selective laser melting [SLM] printing, and post-processed SLM printing) and imaged each microscopic surface structure with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Mechanical testing revealed excessive post-processing damaged the mechanical properties of the implants. In vitro, human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) were cultured with implants, and the morphology of the cells adhering to the implant surface was observed using SEM and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) semi-quantitatively determined cell activity, indirectly reflecting the proliferation of hBMSCs. Alizarin red and alkaline phosphatase experiments assessed osteogenic differentiation. In vivo, experiments utilized the New Zealand rabbit femoral condyle bone defect model to assess bone regeneration and integration using micro-computed tomography, Van Giesen staining, and Masson staining. We found that 3D-printed implants with regular pore structures were more conducive to hBMSC osteogenic differentiation, while the presence of metal powder on NPT-SLM-printed implants hindered such differentiation. The post-treatment SLM scaffold surface may have some residual semi-melted powder; however, these powder residues have no significant effect on cell activity and differentiation. Surface treatment (grit-blasting and titanium spraying) of planar structures can enhance hBMSC adhesion but does not necessarily promote their differentiation. The framework structure of 3D printing may affect the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, and for SLM-printed implants, excessive pursuit of a “powderless” state will damage the mechanical properties of the implant.