Surface modification of titanium thin film with chitosan via electrostatic self-assembly technique and its influence on osteoblast growth behavior

Chitosan (Chi) and poly (styrene sulfonate) (PSS) were employed to surface modify titanium thin film via electrostatic self-assembly (ESA) technique in order to improve its biocompatibility. The surface chemistry, wettability and surface topography of the coated films with different number of deposited layers were investigated by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), water contact angle measurement and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The results indicated that a full surface coverage for the outmost layer was achieved at least after deposition of five layers, i.e., PEI/(PSS/Chi)₂ on the titanium films. The formed multi-layered structure of PEI(PSS/Chi) _x (x ≥ 2) on the titanium film was stable in air at room temperature and in phosphate buffered solution (PBS) for at least 3 weeks. Cell proliferation, cell viability, DNA synthesis as well as differentiation function (alkaline phosphatase) of osteoblasts on chitosan-modified titanium film (PEI/(PSS/Chi)₆) and control sample were investigated, respectively. Osteoblasts cultured on chitosan-modified titanium film displayed a higher proliferation tendency than that of control (p < 0.01). Cell viability, alkaline phosphatase as well as DNA synthesis measurements indicated that osteoblasts on chitosan-modified titanium films were greater (p < 0.01) than those for the control, respectively. These results suggest that surface modification of titanium film was successfully achieved via deposition of PEI/(PSS/Chi) _x layers, which is useful to enhance the biocompatibility of the titanium film.