The Effect of Shear Stress on Cell Adhesion to Titanium and Titanium Alloy

Abstract

We examined the effects of nitric acid and heat treatments on titanium and Ti-6Al-4V alloy by measuring the dynamic contact angle, relative cell adhesion rates after 1 hour and 24 hours, and the cellular adhesive strength of L-929 cells using a cone and disk type viscometer.The dynamic contact angle was not influenced by 40% nitric acid, but was decreased by heat treatment.The relative cell adhesion rate after each treatment remained the same as the control value except for that after 1 hour treatment at 800℃.The percent of adherent cells decreased with longer application of shear stress.However, there was no difference in the percent of adherent cells with changes in the experimental conditions.Thus, a method other than contact angle should be used to evaluate cell adhesive strength.