In situ surface electrochemical characterizations of Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy cultured with osteoblast-like cells

The biocompatibility of metal implants is related to their surface electrochemical characterizations. The in situ growing process of osteoblast-like U-2 OS cells on polished Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy during 72h incubation was monitored using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement technique. The results showed that the presence of cells on metals led to an increase in the impedance and polarization resistance (R(p)) of metals. The impedance and R(p) increased as the cells grew (i.e., from adhesion, spreading to proliferation period). A trace amount of V element released from Ti-6Al-4V alloy led to a lower R(p) with respect to Ti metal during cell culture. In this study, a satisfactory equivalent circuit simulating the electrochemical characterizations of Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy cultured with cells was proposed. The EIS measurement technique was applied successfully to monitor the in situ growing process of U-2 OS cells on Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy.