Titanium oxide as substrate for neural cell growth

Abstract

Titanium oxide has antiinflammatory activity and tunable electrochemical behavior that make it an attractive material for the fabrication of implantable devices. The most stable composition is TiO2 and occurs mainly in three polymorphs, namely, anatase, rutile, and brookite, which differ in its crystallochemical properties. Here, we report the preparation of rutile surfaces that permit good adherence and axonal growth of cultured rat cerebral cortex neurons. Rutile disks were obtained by sinterization of TiO2 powders of commercial origin or precipitated from hydrolysis of Ti(IV)-isopropoxide. Commercial powders sintered at 1300-1600 degrees C produced rutile surfaces with abnormal grain growth, probably because of impurities of the powders. Neurons cultured on those surfaces survived in variable numbers and showed fewer neurites than on control materials. On the other hand, rutile sintered from precipitated powders had less contaminants and more homogenous grain growth. By adjusting the thermal treatment it was possible to obtain surfaces performing well as substrate for neuron survival for at least 10 days. Some surfaces permitted normal axonal elongation, whereas dendrite growth was generally impaired. These findings support the potential use of titanium oxide in neuroprostheses and other devices demanding materials with enhanced properties in terms of biocompatibility and axon growth promotion.