Oxidation of Ti6Al4V at 500 degrees C for 1 h in air results in the formation of an outer ceramic layer that improves osteoblast behavior and decreases Ti and Al ion release. In this work, alumina blasted Ti6Al4V alloy has been thermally treated and its in vitro biocompatibility has been assessed. Roughness of the blasted alloy was not found significantly altered after heat treatment while chemical surface analysis indicated an increase in stable TiO(2) and Al(2)O(3) oxides. Cell attachment, spreading, cytoskeleton organization as well as cell proliferation, viability, and procollagen I peptide secretion of human primary osteoblasts, impaired on alumina blasted Ti6Al4V, were found to be greatly enhanced on the thermally oxidized blasted alloy. Other informative markers of the osteoblastic phenotype such as alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, and mineralized nodule formation were evaluated and indicated that osteoblasts responded at the same extent on untreated and thermally treated blasted alloys. Taken together, our in vitro results indicate that thermal oxidation of alumina blasted Ti6Al4V may favor successful osseointegration by promoting early interactions of osteoblastic cells and the modified surface alloy.
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