Enhancement of in vitro apatite-forming ability of thermally oxidized titanium surfaces by ultraviolet irradiation

Ultraviolet (UV) light was irradiated in air for 1 h on titania (rutile) films prepared by thermal oxidation of titanium substrates from 300°C up to 800°C, coded as HT300UV, HT400UV, HT500UV, HT600UV, HT700UV, and HT800UV, respectively. All samples were then soaked in a simulated body fluid (SBF, Kokubo solution) and their in vitro apatite-forming ability was evaluated. It was found that bone-like apatite particles were deposited on HT500UV, HT600UV, and HT700UV within 7 d whereas that was not the case with others during the same period. Moreover, the apatite particles were deposited more on HT500UV than on the others. Therefore, the ultraviolet light irradiation enhanced the in vitro apatite-forming ability of the thermally oxidized titanium.