Enhanced cellular osteogenic differentiation on Zn-containing bioglass incorporated TiO2 nanorod films

Surface nanotopography and bioactive ions have been considered to play critical roles on the interactions of biomaterials with cells. In this study, a TiO 2 nanorod film incorporated with Zn-containing bioactive glass (TiO 2 /Zn-BG) was prepared on tantalum substrate, trying to evaluate the synergistic effects of nanotopograpgy and bioactive ions to promote cellular osteogenic differentiation activity. The expression of osteogenic-related genes, ALP as well as the ECM mineralization on TiO 2 /Zn-BG film were significantly upregulated compared to that of the film without TiO 2 nanorod nanostructure (Zn-BG) or without Zn (TiO 2 /BG). Moreover, a much low Zn 2+ release level on TiO 2 /Zn-BG film was beneficial to promote the osteogenesis, which could be ascribed to that a semi-closed space established by TiO 2 nanorods with adhered cells provided an appropriate micro-environment that facilitated Zn 2+ adsorption.