Rat Endothelial Cell Attachment, Behavior and Gene Expression on NaOH-treated Titanium Surfaces

189 INTRODUCTION Materials scientists and clinicians worldwide are working to improve the performance of dental implants, with the aim of accelerating and maintaining integration into hard and soft tissues, and extending their range of application. The surface characteristics of the implant material affect the rate and extent of osseointegration. Vandrovcova et al. 2 recently reviewed the growing evidence that surface-modified materials can increase adhesion, growth, and osteogenic differentiation of cells, thus promoting the integration of the implant into bone and maintaining its secondary stability. Recent advances in dental implant research allow for the modification of the surface of the implant material at the nanometer scale 3, . Surface modifications that increase surface area and Rat Endothelial Cell Attachment, Behavior and Gene Expression on NaOH-treated Titanium Surfaces