Chemically Modified Nanoporous Titanium Oxide for Biomedical Applications

• Antragsteller: Professor Klaus von der Mark, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Patrik Schmuki
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Biomaterialien
• Förderung: Förderung von 2008 bis 2012
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 52015780

Due to their high biocompatibility, titanium and titanium alloys are currently used in medical technology as superior biomedical implant materials. Modifications of the surface chemistry and the nanoscale structure of the surface oxide are of crucial significance for integration and biocompatibility of such implants into living environments of human or animal bodies. The present project intends to use porous titanium oxide layers (particularly vertically orientated TiO2 nanotube layers) and aims at grafting self - assembled organic monolayers (SAMs) with cell adhesive proteins, adhesive peptides and growth factors (cell growth supporting molecules = CGSM) as surface coatings in order to modify surface chemistry and morphology for optimizing the biocompatibility of the material. In particular we will exploit the open volume of the nanotubes to achieve a high filling density of cell growth supporting factors. Cellular responses to the coated nanoporous titanium oxide surfaces such as adhesion, spreading, morphology, proliferation and differentiation will be investigated with established in vitro methods. These modified titanium oxide surfaces will be used to spatially confine, align and guide cells by creating a chemically and structurally defined cellular biosystem where cell interactions and cellular activities can be monitored and controlled. The information gained from these studies will have an instantaneous impact on industrial application and development, in particular in life sciences industry for the production of highly biocompatible surfaces on titanium used as orthopedic and dental implants in replacement surgery.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen