Topographical modification of titanium using diatom biosilica to promote human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation

Abstract

Silica-based biomaterials have gained significant attention in the fields of orthopedics and dentistry due to their favorable properties that promote bone regeneration and integration. Techniques such as surface coatings or functionalization can be applied to silica-based biomaterials to further enhance the biological interactions with various composites and hybrid systems, enhancing the properties of polymers, ceramics, and metals used in implants. Diatoms microalgae are fascinating organisms that provide an innovative approach to source silica-based materials sustainably. Diatom-derived biosilica has been proved to be valuable for applications in various fields such as catalysis, drug delivery, environmental remediation. This study explores the potential of Navicula (N.) pelliculosa, a benthic diatom, to self-assemble on smooth titanium (Ti) surfaces. This self-adhesion phenomenon and subsequent topographical modification of the titanium surface are exploited to enhance the growth and osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. By culturing hMSCs on titanium surfaces that have been nanotextured with the hierarchical silica texture of N. pelliculosa, increase in calcium deposition is observed within the extracellular matrix, along with elevated collagen production and upregulation of RUNX2, SP7, and COL1A1. These results indicate that the diatom's structure may serve as an effective bioactive interface to facilitate stem cell behavior and promote bone tissue engineering.

Graphical abstract: Topographical modification of titanium using diatom biosilica to promote human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation

Supplementary files

Transparent peer review

To support increased transparency, we offer authors the option to publish the peer review history alongside their article.

View this article’s peer review history

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 May 2025
Accepted
04 Aug 2025
First published
13 Aug 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Mater. Adv., 2025, Advance Article

Topographical modification of titanium using diatom biosilica to promote human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation

R. Labarile, D. Vona, M. M. Giangregorio, R. Gristina, V. Armenise, P. Albanese, G. M. Farinola and S. R. Cicco, Mater. Adv., 2025, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D5MA00525F

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications, without requesting further permission from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given and it is not used for commercial purposes.

To request permission to reproduce material from this article in a commercial publication, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party commercial publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements