The aim of this study was to evaluate the NaOCl-mediated biofunctionalization of titanium surfaces. Titanium disks stored for 2 weeks were immersed in 5% NaOCl solution for 24 h. A disk immersed in distilled water for 24 h was used as a control. X-ray photoelectron spectrometer assay of the titanium surface after NaOCl treatment demonstrated that organic contaminants containing carbon and nitrogen were removed and the number of hydroxyl groups increased. The NaOCl treatment substantially converted the titanium surface to superhydrophilic status (θ<5°), which resulted in an increased number of attached cells and enhanced cell spreading on the NaOCl-treated surfaces. These results indicate that biofunctionalization of the biologically degraded titanium surfaces can be achieved by chemical surface treatment with 5% NaOCl. The mechanism for desorption of strongly adsorbed organic molecules with polar groups such as amino and aldehyde groups from titanium surfaces by ClO- was elucidated.
Keywords: Biological aging; Chemical surface treatment; NaOCl treatment; Titanium.