Investigation of the mechanical properties of micro and nano structured titanium oxide films produced on titanium implant for biomedical applications

Titanium and its alloys are widely used in biomedical applications due to their high corrosion resistance, superior mechanical properties, and excellent biocompatibility. After implantation, a series of interactions occur between the surface of biomaterials and the biological fluids, cells and tissues. The efficiency of implantation in applications depends on directly surface roughness, topography, chemical composition and wettability properties of implants. Recently it is well known that implant manufacturers have focused their research on the nanostructured implant surfaces. There are some findings about nanostructured titanium surfaces which increase the adsorption of proteins and adhesion of osteoblastic thus rate of osseointegration. In this thesis, implant surfaces have modified by sandblasting and acid-etching and than nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) films were formed on these prepared micro roughened titanium surface like conventional implant surface. In another part of the study, titanium samples were coated with micro porous TiO2 films. Surface morphology, topography, roughness and wettability of the samples prepared by various surface modifications were investigated in details. In addition, a comparative study for mechanical properties of micro- and nanostructured TiO2 films was carried out. Finally, a new micro- and nano textured implant surface were successfully fabricated on the titanium surface resulting in micro roughened treatment and then formed nanoporous TiO2 films respectively. TiO2 nanopores that changed the surface morphology were prepared by anodizing of sandblasted/acid-etched titanium surfaces. In addition, these treatments increased the surface roughness and hydrophilicity which are important parameter for implant applications.