Abstract: In the field of implant biomaterials, titanium and titanium-based alloys have proven to be ideal materials, due to their increased osseointegration and corrosion resistance. Moreover, their biological response is governed by the surface properties. Therefore, nanoscale surface modifications of these materials have received extensive focus especially as such surface modifications have led to improved biocompatibility and corrosion resistance [1,2]. Self-organized TiO2 nanotubes obtained by electrochemical anodization have the advantage of a well controlled nanoscale topography, high aspect ratio and high surface area, directional charge, and ion transport properties, etc., which led to their widespread use in a multitude of applications. Anodization can also be used on a wide range of elements and alloys (Ta, Nb, Zr, TiZr, TiNb, Ti6Al7Nb, etc.) [1,2]. With respect to biomedical applications, this includes specific directions such as osseointegration, biosensors, antibacterial activity, drug delivery, mitigation of the inflammatory response, etc. [2,3] which are built on the excellent control over the morphology and nanotopography. Moreover, cells respond to the nanoscale dimensions of the surface and can be synergistically influenced by the nanotopograhy and by addition of growth factors [1,2,5]. Here we present the key anodic parameters that are necessary for establishing different nanotubular morphologies, as well as their effect on the top morphology of the nanotubes (initiation layer, open-top, nanograss). Moreover, the focus is on crucial aspects for tailoring the nanotube morphology for biomedical applications. We further discuss the key interactions with osteoblast cells or stem cells in in vitro tests (osteoblasts or stem cells in cell culture models), thus evaluating the use of various nanotubular structures in biomedical applications and their advantage for further use in biomedical applications, as well as future prospects with respect to drug delivery, osseointegration and tissue engineering. 1. K. Lee; A. Mazare; P. Schmuki Chem. Rev. 2014, 114, 9385. 2. M. Kulkarni; A. Mazare; E. Gongadze; S. Perutkova; V. Kralj-Iglič; I. Milosev; P. Schmuki; A. Iglič Nanotechnology 2015, 26, 062002. 3. M. Kulkarni; A. Mazare; J. Park; E. Gongadze; M.S. Killian; S. Kralj; K. von der Mark; A. Iglič; P. Schmuki, Acta Biomaterialia 2016, 45, 357. 4. R. Ion; M.G. Necula; A. Mazare; V. Mitran; P. Neacsu; P. Schmuki; A. Cimpean Current Medicinal Chemistry 2020, 20, 1. 5. A. Mazare; J. Park; S. Simons; S. Mohajernia; I. Hwang; J.E. Yoo; H. Schneider, M.J. Fischer; P. Schmuki Acta Biomaterialia, 2019, 97, 681.

Keywords: Electrochemical anodization; TiO2 nanotubes; Biomedical; Osseointegration

Biography: Anca Mazare studied Chemical Engineering and her Master degree in Biocompatible Substances, Materials and Systems both at Politechnica University of Bucharest, Romania, and received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Politechnica University of Bucharest, Romania, in 2012 under the supervision of Prof. I. Demetrescu. She joined the group of Prof. P. Schmuki at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, in 2012 as a postdoctoral fellow where she has been working on synthesis and modification of semiconductor nanomaterials for biomedical and energy-related applications.