Author(s)

Filiberto Mastrangelo, Giulia Fioravanti, Raimondo Quaresima, Raffaele Vinci, Enrico Gherlone

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Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are ordered organic films formed by adsorption of an active organic coating on a solid surface. Their formation provides an alternative, highly innovative, to current traditional chemical treatments of the titanium surfaces. For this reason the structural phases, the formation and the growth of SAMs is described from a surface science point of view. Particulars are given to SAMs on titanium concerning surface morphology, chemical composition and affinity of specific head group for Ti surfaces (silanes, siloxane, phosphonates and phosphates). Preparation, coating methodologies, limitations and techniques used for the characterization of SAMs are reported. For their physicochemical characteristics and micro-nano scale features some perspectives of using SAMs in biomedical application are outlined.

Titanium Surfaces, Implant Dentistry, Osteointegration, Self-Assembling Monolayers, Phosphates

Mastrangelo, F. , Fioravanti, G. , Quaresima, R. , Vinci, R. and Gherlone, E. (2011) Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs): Which Perspectives in Implant Dentistry?. Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology, 2, 533-543. doi: 10.4236/jbnb.2011.225064.