The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological effect of immobilized cell-adhesive protein onto titanium using tresyl chloride-activated technique. Titanium sputter-coated glass (Ti-glass) was used as a substrate. Tresyl chloride was directly applied onto Ti-glass. Fibronectin or collagen was immobilized to tresylated Ti-glass. The measurement of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared reflection-adsorption spectroscopy confirmed the immobilization of fibronectin or collagen onto tresylated Ti-glass. The immobilization of fibronectin was not effective for enhancing the initial attachment of human gingival fibroblasts, but collagen immobilization was effective. The observation of scanning electron micro-scope also revealed that collagen immobilization affected the morphological changes of attached human fibroblast. In conclusion, the present study supported that colla-gen immobilization onto Ti-glass using tresyl chloride-activation technique improved the activity of human gingival fibroblasts during initial attachment.
Key words: fibronectin, collagen, fibroblast, tresyl chloride, titanium