Melhorando o desempenho de discos de titânio embalados por meio do tratamento com plasma atmosférico frio

Abstract

Although titanium (Ti)-based bone implants are already clinically established, ongoing research is being conducted to advance the fields of osseointegration and bacterial resistance, seeking further improvements in these areas. In this study, we present an innovative method for the treatment of Ti surfaces in hermetically sealed packaging. Ti discs in surgical-grade packaging were treated with cold atmospheric plasma (CAP). The surfaces were characterized in terms of wettability, crystal structure, and chemical composition. Hemocompatibility analyses were performed using sodium citrate-diluted blood (1:9 ratio) exposed to Ti disks for 30 minutes in a CO2 incubator at 37 °C. Subsequent evaluations included complete blood count (leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and erythrocytes), prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and platelet adhesion. Microbiological analyses were conducted using Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) incubated for 4 hours at 37 °C. CAP treatment reduced the contact angle without altering the crystalline structure. No statistical differences were observed in blood count parameters. Plasma-treated samples exhibited significantly lower PT and APTT values compared to the control group. Platelet adhesion assessments revealed that CAP-treated surfaces showed increased platelet activation, platelet density, and thrombus formation compared to untreated samples. Additionally, treated surfaces demonstrated reduced bacterial colony formation relative to untreated surfaces. Thus, CAP emerges as a promising strategy for optimizing Ti-based bone implants in clinical settings.