Surface Modification of Titanium Using BSA-Loaded Chitosan and Chitosan/Gelatin Polymers

The integration of titanium-based implants with the surrounding bone tissue needs to be improved to increase their service life. This work presents a surface modification technique to increase the osteointegration of titanium implants. The studies were conducted in three main steps: (i) surface modification of titanium using bovine serum albumin (BSA)-loaded chitosan and chitosan/gelatin polymers, (ii) studies of BSA release from these surfaces, (iii) effect of porosity and polymer composition on osteoblast cell proliferation. TiO2 and COOH groups were formed on titanium surfaces. Then, chitosan and chitosan (C)/gelatin (G) with various ratios (G:C = 0.5:1, 1:1, 1:0.5) were mixed with BSA and fixed to the surface via carbodiimide chemistry (EDC/NHS). After the immobilization process, samples were exposed to either air or freeze-drying. Characterization studies were conducted using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Finally, BSA release studies in phosphate-buffered saline (0.1 M, 37 °C) and cell (osteoblast) proliferation studies using MTS assay were conducted. BSA-loaded porous structures were obtained on chitosan- and chitosan/gelatin-containing surfaces after freeze-drying, while smooth surfaces were obtained after air-drying. The BSA release rate was directly correlated with increasing gelatin amount in the chitosan/gelatin coatings. MTS analysis was not conclusive because of the absorption properties of polymer coatings. However, absorbed color density in chitosan/gelatin (G:C = 1:1) polymers under freeze-drying conditions was more dominant, indicating better cell proliferation. This method may be used to release growth factors for controlled cell proliferation and differentiation or for the local delivery of antimicrobial drugs to prevent contamination during implementation in hard tissue applications.