Osseointegration of Implants Through Ti Biofunctionalization with Biomass from Chlorella sorokiniana UTEX 1230 and Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002

The inadequate osseointegration of titanium implants remains a significant challenge in orthopedics, limiting the long-term efficacy of prostheses and medical devices. It has been determined that biological aging of the titanium surface compromises the implant-bone tissue interaction due to increased hydrophobicity and accumulation of organic molecules. To address this issue, an innovative strategy has been proposed: the biofunctionalization of Ti6Al4V surfaces utilizing biomass derived from <i>Chlorella sorokiniana</i> UTEX 1230 and <i>Synechococcus</i> sp. PCC 7002. This research was structured to encompass microalgal culture optimization through biocompatibility evaluation of biofunctionalized surfaces. Biofunctionalization stages were analyzed using contact angle measurements, EDS, SEM, and cellular assays. It was observed that piranha solution activation generated a hydrophilic surface, while silanization was more efficient in samples treated for 14 h. It was found that <i>Synechococcus</i> sp. PCC 7002 presented a higher biomass concentration on the surface compared to <i>C. sorokiniana</i> UTEX 1230. Cytotoxicity assays revealed that the coating with <i>Synechococcus</i> sp. PCC 7002 was potentially non-cytotoxic, with a cell viability of 86.8%. SEM images showed a significant number of cells adhered to the treated sample. In conclusion, the potential of using microalgal biomass to biofunctionalize titanium surfaces has been demonstrated, offering an innovative alternative to improve implant-tissue interaction and, consequently, the osseointegration process in orthopedic applications.