Effect of oxygen plasma immersion ion implantation treatment on corrosion resistance and cell adhesion of titanium surface

Objective: The study was to investigate the corrosion resistance and cell adhesion of titanium (Ti) surface for dental implant application by oxygen plasma immersion ion implantation (O‐PIII) treatments. Materials and methods: Commercially pure Ti discs (grade 2) were used as the substrate. O‐PIII surface treatments, with different oxygen doses (1 × 1016 and 4 × 1016 ions/cm2), were performed in a high‐vacuum chamber with a radio frequency plasma source. Atomic force microscope, X‐ray photoelectron spectrometer and nanoindenter were used to analyze surface topography, chemical composition (three samples per group) and mechanical property (twenty‐five samples per group) of Ti specimens, respectively. Corrosion resistance of Ti specimens (five samples per group) was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization curve measurement in simulated blood plasma solution. The adhesion and spreading of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on Ti surfaces were studied. Results: The results showed that O‐PIII treatment had no significant influence on the surface topography of Ti specimens. The thickness of oxide layer (mainly as TiO2) on the O‐PIII‐treated Ti specimens increased with an increase in oxygen dose implanted. The O‐PIII‐treated Ti specimens possessed higher surface hardness and Young's modulus than the untreated Ti specimen. Potentiodynamic polarization tests revealed that the O‐PIII‐treated Ti surfaces had lower corrosion rate (Icorr) and passive current (Ipass) than the untreated Ti surface. The adhesion and spreading of hMSCs on Ti surfaces were improved by O‐PIII treatment. Conclusions: O‐PIII treatment could enhance the corrosion resistance and cell adhesion of Ti surface for dental implant application due to the increase in surface thickness of Ti‐oxides (mainly as TiO2) on Ti. To cite this article: Yang C‐H, Wang Y‐T, Tsai W‐F, Ai C‐F, Lin M‐C, Huang H‐H. Effect of oxygen plasma immersion ion implantation treatment on corrosion resistance and cell adhesion of titanium surface. Clin. Oral Impl. Res. xx, 2011; 000–000. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2010.02132.x