Human osteoblast and fibroblast response to oral implant biomaterials functionalized with non-thermal oxygen plasma

Abstract

Plasma-treatment of oral implant biomaterials prior to clinical insertion is envisaged as a potential surface modification method for enhanced implant healing. To investigate a putative effect of plasma-functionalized implant biomaterials on oral tissue cells, this investigation examined the response of alveolar bone osteoblasts and gingival fibroblasts to clinically established zirconia- and titanium-based implant surfaces for bone and soft tissue integration. The biomaterials were either functionalized with oxygen-plasma in a plasma-cleaner or left untreated as controls, and were characterized in terms of topography and wettability. For the biological evaluation, the cell adhesion, morphogenesis, metabolic activity and proliferation were examined, since these parameters are closely interconnected during cell-biomaterial interaction. The results revealed that plasma-functionalization increased implant surface wettability. The magnitude of this effect thereby depended on surface topography parameters and initial wettability of the biomaterials. Concerning the cell response, plasma-functionalization of smooth surfaces affected initial fibroblast morphogenesis, whereas osteoblast morphology on rough surfaces was mainly influenced by topography. The plasma- and topography-induced differential cell morphologies were however not strong enough to trigger a change in proliferation behaviour. Hence, the results indicate that oxygen plasma-functionalization represents a possible cytocompatible implant surface modification method which can be applied for tailoring implant surface wettability.

Laser Structured Dental Zirconium for Soft Tissue Cell Occupation—Importance of Wettability Modulation

“…Another characteristic surface aspect-wettability-is influenced by microstructures and surface roughness, among other factors [3,24,31]. Different studies postulated that surface roughness leads to increased hydrophobic behavior [24].…”

“…Another characteristic surface aspect-wettability-is influenced by microstructures and surface roughness, among other factors [3,24,31]. Different studies postulated that surface roughness leads to increased hydrophobic behavior [24]. The cause is the inclusion of air in surface pores, which forms a heterogeneous solid/air surface that impairs spontaneous wetting of the surface (Cassie-Baxter wetting condition) [41].…”

“…Functionalization of dental implant surfaces with gas plasmas before clinical use is considered a potential surface modification method for improved implant integration into the tissue [19,24,[42][43][44][45]. To investigate the possible biological efficacy of plasma-activated zirconia on samples, the laser-structured surfaces were treated with argon plasma using the kINPen ® 09 for only 1 min.…”

“…So far, there are few analyses available that focus on how physico-chemically characteristics of the implant influence the cell behavior after the first contact with fibroblasts have been performed [19,24]. Further knowledge of the responses of gingival fibroblasts to the modified surfaces of zirconia would make it possible to specify the manufacturing steps required in the fabrication of dental implants.…”

Addition of Ca2+ to Titanium Plates by a Hydrothermal Method and the Effects on Human Gingival Fibroblasts

“…However, meeting the requirements of rapid integration with the surrounding soft tissue after repair to form an early soft-tissue seal using titanium is di cult. Therefore, several studies have treated the titanium surface to make it more conducive to the early adhesion and proliferation of broblasts so as to form good softtissue sealing faster [11,12,13,14].…”