Characterization of sol-gel derived titania films on titanium and biomimetic apatite-formation

Titania films with various thickness (about 100 nm to 300 nm) were prepared on titanium substrate by means of sol- gel method. Their surface energy was derived and in vitro apatite-forming ability was studied. The thickness of titania films of the sample coded C1, C3 and C5 was 98 nm, 204 nm, and 302 nm, respectively. Titania films of C5 showed smoother and more hydrophilic. The surface free energy of C5 was the highest of all. In vitro apatite-forming ability showed the titania films of C5, only. It was thus suggested that the titania films with more hydrophilic and higher surface free energy favored apatite-formation than those with smaller surface free energy.