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Surface topography, protein adsorption, and the loading of coating materials can affect soft tissue sealing. Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising candidate for improving material surface functionalization to facilitate soft tissue integration between cells and biomaterials. In this study, TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) were prepared by the anodization of Ti, and TNT-graphene oxide composites (TNT-GO) were prepared by subsequent electroplating. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TNTs and TNT-GO surface modifications on the behavior of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Commercially pure Ti and TNTs were used as the control group, and the TNT-GO surface was used as the experimental group. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used to perform sample characterization. Cell adhesion, cell proliferation, cell immunofluorescence staining, a wound-healing assay, real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blotting showed that the proliferation, adhesion, migration, and adhesion-related relative gene expression of HGFs on TNT-GO were significantly enhanced compared to the control groups, which may be mediated by the activation of integrin β1 and the MAPK-Erk1/2 pathway. Our findings suggest that the biological reactivity of HGFs can be enhanced by the TNT-GO surface, thereby improving the soft tissue sealing ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soft tissue sealing at the transmucal portion of implants is vital for the long-term stability of implants. Hydrogenated titanium nanotubes (H2-TNTs) as implant surface treatments were proved to promote the adhesion of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and have broad usage as drug delivery systems. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the most abundant albumin in body fluid was crucial for cell adhesion and was demonstrated as a normal loading protein. As the first protein arriving on the surface of the implant, albumin plays an important role in initial adhesion of soft tissue cells, it is also a common carrier, transferring and loading different endogenous and exogenous substances, ions, drugs, and other small molecules. The aim of the present work was to investigate whether BSA-loaded H2-TNTs could promote the early adhesion of HGFs; H2-TNTs were obtained by hydrogenated anodized titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) in thermal treatment, and BSA was loaded in the nanotubes by vacuum drying; our results showed that the superhydrophilicity of H2-TNTs is conducive to the loading of BSA. In both hydrogenated titanium nanotubes and non-hydrogenated titanium nanotubes, a high rate of release was observed over the first hour, followed by a period of slow and sustained release; however, BSA-loading inhibits the early adhesion of human gingival fibroblasts, and H2-TNTs has the best promoting effect on cell adhesion. With the release of BSA after 4 h, the inhibitory effect of BSA on cell adhesion was weakened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Superhydrophilic nanostructure was fabricated for improving soft tissue sealing. • The properties of the surface regulate the behavior of human gingival fibroblasts. • FAK/integrin-mediated adhesion seemed to be induced by the hydrogenated surface. Soft tissue integration is critical for the long-term retention of dental implants. The surface properties including topography and wettability can impact soft tissue sealing. In our work, a thermal hydrogenation technique was applied to modify anodized titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs). However, the effects of the hydrogenated surface on soft-tissue cells remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the bioactivities of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) on structured surfaces, which determine the early formation of soft tissue sealing. Three groups were examined: commercially pure titanium (Ti), anodized TNTs (air-TNTs) and hydrogenated TNTs (H 2 -TNTs). Scanning electron microscopy showed the nanotubular topography on the titanium surfaces after anodization. Then, hydrogenation ensured that the H 2 -TNTs were superhydrophilic with a contact angle of 3.5 ± 0.8°. In vitro studies such as cell adhesion assays, cell morphology, immunocytochemistry, wound healing assays, real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays displayed enhanced adhesion, migration, relative gene expression levels, and extracellular matrix synthesis of the HGFs on H 2 -TNTs. Interestingly, focal adhesion kinase activation and integrin-mediated adhesion seemed to be induced by the H 2 -TNT surface. Our results revealed that a superhydrophilic nanostructure modified by anodization and hydrogenation can improve the bioactivity of HGFs and connective tissue regeneration, which will further promote and expand the application of titanium dioxide nanotubes in dental implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]