Improved Bioactivity of Titanium-Based Surfaces Fabricated by Laser Melting Deposition by Functionalization with 3D Polymeric Microstructures Produced by Laser Direct Writing via Two-Photon Polymerization

Titanium (Ti)-based implants are widely used for bone injuries but suffer from poor bioactivity. To address this, we propose an innovative synergistic approach that combines laser melting deposition (LMD) for the fabrication of titanium-based supports with laser direct writing via two-photon polymerization (LDW via TPP) for their functionalization with 3D polymeric microstructures. We functionalized Ti surfaces fabricated by LMD using Ti (99.85 wt.%) and TiC powders (79.95 wt.% Ti, 20.05 wt.% C), with 3D microstructures obtained by LDW via TPP. The 3D microstructures were made of IP-Dip photopolymer and comprised 64 vertical microtubes arranged in five layers (10 to 170 μm tall, >94% porosity). When seeded with MG-63 osteoblast-like cells, the Ti-based surfaces functionalized with 3D polymeric microstructures promoted 3D cells' spatial organization. Moreover, the cells seeded on functionalized Ti-based surfaces showed earlier organic matrix synthesis (day 7 vs. day 14) and mineralization (higher deposits of calcium and phosphorus, starting from day 7), as compared with the cells from non-functionalized Ti. In addition, the traction forces exerted by the cells on the 3D microstructures, determined using FEBio Studio software, were of the order of hundreds of µN, whereas if the cells would have been seeded on extracellular matrix-like materials, the traction forces would have been of only few nN. These results point towards the major role played by 3D polymeric microarchitectures in the interaction between osteoblast-like cells and Ti-based surfaces. Overall, the functionalization of Ti-based constructs fabricated by LMD with 3D polymeric microstructures made by LDW via TPP significantly improved Ti bioactivity.