OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effect of cell behavior on a new titanium alloy and coarsening surface with sandblasting and duplicate treated by sandblasting and acid etching (SLA), including cell proliferation, morphology as well as alkaline phosphatase expression.

METHODSThe cell derived from calvarial bone of neonate and co-cultured with the surface treated titanium alloys in vitro. The samples were treated by mechanical polishing, the sandblasting and the SLA. Cell proliferation on samples for 3 d was examined by MTT assay and cell morphology was observed by scan electron microscope. Alkaline phosphatase activity was measured at 5 d by ALP-special assay.

RESULTSThe sandblasting and the SLA surface showed a significant different to smooth surface in the proliferation osteoblasts. The cells were elongated and spread well and having plentiful filopods on the coarse surface. The basal ALP activity indicated that optical density value of osteoblasts was not significant difference between coarse surface and smooth surface.

CONCLUSIONThe observed effects are attributed to coarsening surface and support the concept that roughness can enhance the differentiation, good morphology and alkaline phosphatase expression of the cells. These results suggest that the good biological performance evaluation of sandblasting and etching surface is merited.