Cavitation erosion: An efficient method for promoting osteogenesis and immunomodulation of titanium surface.

Objectives: Surface treatments of titanium dental implants can improve osseointegration and reduce the incidence of peri-implantitis. This study provides a new approach for surface modification by utilizing the principle of cavitation(CAV), which can generate high temperature and pressure with micro-jets acting on the surface.

Methods: Titanium surfaces were treated by CAV, and compared with a control group (sandblasted, large grit, and acid-etched, SLA). The microscopic morphology and roughness of the titanium surfaces, as well as their effect on osteoblast and macrophage biocompatibility were measured.

Results: Characteristic CAV pits were formed on the surface following CAV treatment, and roughness was significantly increased compared to the SLA surface (p < 0.05). The CAV treatment not only promoted adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts more effectively than SLA, but also facilitated the polarization of macrophages towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype.

Conclusions: An innovative titanium implant surface treatment that utilises the CAV effect has been developed and demonstrates superior biocompatibility and ability to promote osteogenesis and immunomodulation compared with conventional surface treatment methods.

Significance: The CAV titanium surface treatment offers distinct advantages over SLA surface treatment, including superior osteogenic and immunomodulatory potential, along with a simpler and more environmentally friendly manufacturing process. These benefits establish CAV as a promising new strategy for enhancing titanium implant surfaces.