Diploma Thesis Production and Physiochemical Characterization of Self–Assembled Monolayers on Titanium Surfaces and their Influence on Fibroblast Behavior.

The effects of surface topography and chemistry on human gingival fibroblasts behavior were studied in-vitro. Two different surface topographies, a smooth and a rough (SLA) titanium surface were modified by a self assembly monolayer (SAM) technique based on functionalized alkanephosphate/alkanephosphonate. Smooth and rough surfaces surfaces were modified producing and hydrophobic (-CH3 functionalized SAM) and hydrophilic (-OH functionalized SAM) surfaces. The rough surfaces were also modified by the SAM technique in order to obtain positively charged (-NH-(CH2)-CH3 functionalized SAM) and negatively charged surfaces (-OPO3 2- functionalized SAM). X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and water Contact Angle measurements (CA) were used to characterize the modified surfaces. Cell morphology was investigated by Secondary Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM). Further, CLSM was used to observe cytoskeletal organization and to determine cell thickness. Cell area and perimeter were determined from the digital CLSM pictures. XPS measurements confirm the adsorption of the functionalized molecules at both th