The two step nanotube formation on TiZr as scaffolds for cell growth

Various TiO2 nanotubes on Ti50Zr alloy have been fabricated via a two step anodization method in glycol with 15 vol.% H2O and 0.2 M NH4F under anodization controlled voltages of 15, 30 and 45 V. A new sonication treatment in deionized water with three steps and total sonication time as 1 min was performed after the first anodization step in order to remove the oxide layer grown during 2 h. The second step of anodization was for 1 h and took place at the same conditions. The role of removed layer as a nano-prepatterned surface was evidenced in the formation of highly ordered nanotubular structures and morphological features were analyzed by SEM, AFM and surface wettability. The voltage-controlled anodization leads to various nanoarhitectures, with diameters in between 20 and 80 nm. As biological assay, cell culture tests with MG63 cell line originally derived from a human osteosarcoma were performed. A correlation between nanostructure morphological properties as a result of voltage-controlled anodization and cell response was established. (C) 2014 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved.