Enhancing surface free energy and hydrophilicity through chemical modification of microstructured titanium implant surfaces

Roughness-induced hydrophobicity, well-known from natural plant surfaces and intensively studied toward superhydrophobic surfaces, has currently been identified on microstructured titanium implant surfaces. Studies indicate that microstructuring by sandblasting and acid etching (SLA) enhances the osteogenic properties of titanium. The undesired initial hydrophobicity, however, presumably decelerates primary interactions with the aqueous biosystem. To improve the initial wettability and to retain SLA microstructure, a novel surface modification was tested. This modification differs from SLA by its preparation after acid etching, which was done under protective gas conditions following liquid instead of dry…