One-step hydrothermal fabrication of a strontium titanate coating on titanium enhances osseointegration of dental implants

Titanium, owing to its excellent mechanical strength and biocompatibility, is widely used as the primary material for dental implants. However, its inherent biological inertness sometimes leads to poor initial osseointegration. Therefore, developing strategies to enhance titanium’s osseointegration remains of great clinical relevance. Although numerous surface modification techniques have been explored, simpler and more efficient approaches are still highly desirable. In this study, we propose a novel one-step hydrothermal method to fabricate a strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) coating on pure titanium. Surface characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the formation of a uniform, crystalline SrTiO₃ layer with favorable hydrophilicity. In vitro experiments demonstrated that MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts cultured on the Ti–Sr surface exhibited significantly enhanced adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic gene expression compared to pure Ti and Ti-OH controls. Furthermore, in vivo evaluation using a rat model showed that, after eight weeks, Ti–Sr implants achieved markedly improved bone-implant integration and osteogenesis, as evidenced by micro-CT and histological analysis. These findings demonstrate that our one-pot synthesis is not only effective in enhancing bioactivity but also represents a simplified and efficient manufacturing strategy. This approach holds substantial promise for improving the clinical success of dental implants and could be readily adapted for surface engineering of other orthopedic devices.