Enhanced Polyp Adhesion on Chemically Modified Titanium Nonwoven Fabric

Coral reefs face significant damage from factors such as climate change, pollution, and careless tourism. Although vertebrates and corals differ in substance, their skeletal formation mechanisms are very similar. Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are widely utilised as biomedical materials for orthopaedic and dental implants due to their excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and corrosion resistance. Various surface modifications have been developed to enhance cell adhesion and bone formation. This study aimed to investigate polyp adhesion and skeletal formation on Ti nonwoven materials after chemical surface modifications. Polyps were isolated by increasing the salinity of artificial seawater (viesalt, MARINETECH) in which coral fragments were immersed. Ti nonwoven fabric was anodised. The polyp adhered to the substrate on Day1 and expanded along the fibres over a period of about Day15. The moderate roughness and the oxide film formed on the surface improved the wettability of the substrate.