Functionalization and coatings on Ti surface for a better integration with soft tissues

In order to obtain a better integration with soft tissue, titanium substrates were functionalized and covered with keratin solution. With the aim of evaluating adhesion properties, tape test and scratch test were performed on titanium surfaces treated with plasma and UV, and covered by solution with different keratin concentrations. The results reveal that keratin coating presents the better adhesion on plasma-treated Ti rather than other surfaces. Then characterization tests were conducted, in order to evaluate surface characteristics. It was evaluated wettability of Ti-cp and plasma-treated Ti with keratin coating using ultrapure water, and wettability of Ti-cp and plasma-treated Ti using keratin solution. A FT-IR analysis was conducted on functionalized Ti and on Ti-cp, plasma- and UV-treated Ti with keratin coatings. In this case, the spectra shows the typical peaks of keratin. XRD analysis was performed on keratin film at 3% wt and 7% wt in water, and the results were compared with those of keratin film in formic acid, obtained by a previous work. The elemental composition of Ti treated in different ways, covered by keratin coatings (3% and 7% wt) or functionalized was analyzed by an XPS test. In order to evaluate keratin interaction with water for a long period, a stability in water test was performed and macroscopical changes were evaluated after 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of immersion. With the aim of analyse surface charge, Ti-cp samples, plasma-treated Ti and plasma-treated Ti with keratin coating were subjected to zeta-potential analysis, which reveals an IEP for pH values in the range of 3 and 5,5. Electrospinning technique was used to deposit keratin nanofibers on plasma-treated Ti and adhesion characterists were analyzed by tape test. In order to evaluate how keratin nanofibers can arranged on cylindrical titanium samples, titanium bars with controlled roughness were used.