Adaptive response of osteoblasts grown on a titanium surface: morphology, cell proliferation and stress protein synthesis.

Titanium is one of the most widely used biomaterials in orthopaedic, dental and trauma surgery. Superficial adhesion and cell proliferation represent the first steps of cell-biomaterial interactions. The efficacy of this early phase influences the subsequent ability to differentiate, and hence the knowledge of these cell activities is important for studying and improving the biocompatibility of biomaterials. The aim of this study was to test the adaptive ability of osteoblastic cells grown on titanium surfaces, including morphologic, proliferative and adaptative aspects.