~ 17 ~ European Journal of Biotechnology and Bioscience 2014; 1 (3): 17-26 ISSN 2321-9122 EJBB 2014; 1 (3): 17-26 Received 31-08-2013 Accepted: 20-1-2014 Engwa Azeh Godwill International Bio-Research Institute, Ugwogo-Nike, Enugu State, Nigeria. Correspondence: Engwa Azeh Godwill International Bio-Research Institute, Ugwogo-Nike, Enugu State, Nigeria. Tel: +2348068473306 E-mail: engwagodwill@gmail.com Micro-photographic analysis of titanium anodization to assess bio-activation Ibrahim M. Hamouda, Noha A. El-wassefy, Hamdy A. Marzook, Ahmed Nour El-deen A. Habib, Ghada Y. El-awady ABSTRACT Today surface modifications of titanium implants have become a development strategy of dental implants. The present study investigated the morphology (SEM), surface elemental analysis (EDX), surface roughness (AFM) and crystalline structure (XRD) of TiO2 film prepared via anodic oxidation of grade II commercially pure titanium specimens in different electrolytic solutions and times. Incubation of anodized specimens into simulated body fluids for 7 days showed that a layer containing calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) was precipitated on the titanium surface. This was detected by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), the atomic Ca/P ration was calculated and compared to the hydroxyapatite ratio 1.67. The oxide film observed on specimens, which did not experience dielectric breakdown experienced little morphological, surface areas and roughness changes. When sulfuric acid and sodium sulfate solution were used as electrolyte, the anodized specimens experienced dielectric breakdown and showed variation in their morphology, surface areas and roughness changes. It was found that bioactive titanium metals could be prepared via anodic oxidation of grade II cpTi in 1M sulfuric acid solution for 4 min, followed by heat treatment at 600 o C for 1 h. Small globules of the calcium phosphate layer precipitated on the titanium surfaces after 7 days of soaking time into SBF. However, for the non- treated titanium samples the precipitation of the bone-like apatite was not observed. The oxide film exhibits suitable in vitro behavior due to its ability of inducing the precipitation of a calcium- phosphate layer similar to the bone-like apatite. Keywords: Commercially pure titanium; Anodic oxidation; Morphology; Chemical analysis; Roughness; Atomic Force Microscopy. 1. Introduction Ongoing developments in the area of surface technology are aimed to enhance tissue ⁄ surface interactions which may allow the development of smaller or custom devices that can provide anchorage and support for a variety of applications such as surgical very short implants (<5 mm length) or enhanced orthopaedic devices. Osseointegrated dental implants are increasingly used to replace missing teeth in a variety of situations ranging from the missing single tooth to complete edentulism [1] . One important research field is to understand and improve the implant-bone interface by applying new knowledge from nano-technology research, by chemically modifying the titanium surface and ⁄ or by incorporating osseoinductive substances in the surface [2] . Titanium is a bioinert material that neither chemically connects with bony tissue nor actively induces bone growth compared with calcium phosphate-coated implants [3] . Therefore, various surface modification techniques have been developed and applied to titanium implants in an attempt to improve their bioactivity [4-6] . Among the surface modification techniques used, anodic oxidation can easily form an oxide film on titanium surface through an electrochemical process, regardless of the shape of the implant [7] . Micro- or nano-porous surfaces may be produced by potentiostatic or galvanostatic anodization of titanium in strong acids (H2SO4, H3PO4, HNO3, HF) at high current density (200A/m 2 ) and potential (100 V). The result of the anodization is to thicken the oxide layer to more than 1000 nm on titanium. When strong acids are used in an electrolyte solution, the oxide layer will be dissolved along current convection lines and thickened in other regions. The dissolution of the oxide layer along the current convection lines creates micro or nano-pores on titanium surface [8, 9] .