Layer-by-layer self-assembled films of molecular oligoelectrolytes were
used to modify Ti-6Al-4V surfaces in order to test their ability as
potential drug delivery system. With regard to medical application the
in vitro behavior of the modified material was investigated. The
Ti-6Al-4V (6% aluminium, 4% vanadium) material was treated in a
layer-by-layer (LbL) process with 2, 4, 6 and 8 layers of molecular
oligoelectrolytes 1 and 2 and thereby doped with a fluorescent reporter
molecule 2. Human osteoblasts were cultured for a period up to 5 days on
the modified material. Ti-6Al-4V surfaces without modification were used
as control. In order to investigate the in vitro behavior of the coating
as well as the influence of components of the coating on osteoblastic
cells, respectively, cell proliferation, differentiation and attachment
of hFOB cells were observed by means of cell number, osteoblastic gene
expression and fluorescence microscopy. Degradation behavior of the OEM
(oligoelectrolyte multilayer film) was examined using optical
spectroscopy. Measurement data imply that the layer-by-layer coating was
successfully assembled on the Ti surface and endures steam
sterilization. The fluorescence signal in cell culture medium increased
strictly linear with increasing pre-assembled number of layers on the
surface. Proliferation rates of the cells in experimental groups did not
differ significantly from each other (P a parts per thousand yen 0.783).
Differentiation pattern was not significantly changed by the coating.
The fluorescent reporter component of the film was absorbed by
osteoblastic cells and was detected by fluorescence microscopy
