Enhanced Cell Adhesion on Biofunctionalized Ti6Al4V Alloy: Immobilization of Proteins and Biomass from Spirulina platensis Microalgae

TL;DR

This paper shows that using microalgae biomass and proteins can improve cell adhesion on titanium alloy surfaces used in implants.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel biofunctionalization method using Spirulina platensis biomass and protein extract to enhance titanium alloy biocompatibility.

Findings

Biomass-functionalized surfaces showed higher phosphorus and oxygen content compared to protein-coated surfaces.

Cell adhesion was significantly improved on surfaces treated with 5 g/L biomass for three hours.

Both biomass and protein treatments altered surface chemistry to enhance early cell-material interactions.

Abstract

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are widely used in biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and corrosion resistance; however, surface modifications are required to enhance biological functionality. Surface functionalization using natural biomolecules has emerged as a promising strategy to improve early cell–surface interactions and biocompatibility of implant materials. In this study, Ti6Al4V alloy surfaces were biofunctionalized using Spirulina platensis (S. platensis) biomass and protein extract to evaluate morphological, chemical, and biological effects. The functionalization process involved activation with piranha solution, silanization with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and subsequent biomolecule immobilization. Surface characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the successful incorporation of microalgal components, including nitrogen-, phosphorus-, and oxygen-rich organic groups. Biomass-functionalized surfaces exhibited higher phosphorus and oxygen content, while protein-coated surfaces showed nitrogen-enrich chemical signatures, reflecting the distinct molecular compositions of the immobilized biomolecules. Cell adhesion assays demonstrated enhanced early cell attachment on biofunctionalized surfaces, particularly in samples functionalized with 5 g/L biomass for three hours, which showed significantly greater cell attachment than both the control and protein-treated samples. These findings highlight the complementary yet distinct roles of S. platensis biomass and protein extract in modulating surface chemistry and cell–material interactions, emphasizing the importance of tailoring biofunctionalization strategies to optimize early biological responses on titanium-based implants.

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