Osteoblast cell adhesion on a laser modified zirconia based bioceramic

Abstract

Due to their attractive mechanical properties, bioinert zirconia bioceramics are frequently used in the high load-bearing sites such as orthopaedic and dental implants, but they are chemically inert and do not naturally form a direct bond with bone and thus do not provide osseointegration. A CO2 laser was used to modify the surface properties with the aim to achieve osseointegration between bioinert zirconia and bone. The surface characterisation revealed that the surface roughness decreased and solidified microstructure occurred after laser treatment. Higher wettability characteristics generated by the CO2 laser treatment was primarily due to the enhancement of the surface energy, particularly the polar component, determined by microstructural changes. An in vitro test using human fetal osteoblast cells (hFOB) revealed that osteoblast cells adhere better on the laser treated sample than the untreated sample. The change in the wettability characteristics could be the main mechanism governing the osteoblast cell adhesion on the YPSZ.

Surface damages of zirconia by Nd:YAG dental laser irradiation

“…In a surface modification experiment by Hao et al 19) , a 3-kW CO2 laser treatment at a wavelength of 10.6 µm using a continuous wave was employed under these operating conditions: power densities of 1.80 and 2.25 kW/cm 2 with a spot diameter of 11 mm, transverse speed set at 5000 mm/minute, and energy densities at 237 and 297 J/cm 2 . The defocused CO2 laser beam did not result in blackening or crack formation on Y-TZP.…”

Development of Osteoblast Colonies on New Bioactive Coatings

“…However, other studies show no effect of the surface chemistry (Ref 6, 11). Another important factor linked to the cell adhesion is the wettability of the surface, which can have either a direct effect on adhesion by promoting the cell contact with the surface or an indirect one by promoting the protein unfolding at the surface (Ref [12][13][14]. The effect of protein type on cell adhesion is certainly very important.…”

Improved Wettability Increases Osteoblastic Adhesion on Hydroxyapatite

“…A-type carbonate apatite, corresponding to a location of carbonate ions at monovalent anionic OH -sites, had lower wettability, lower cell spreading, and similar cell proliferation compared with HA. Surface wettability on several biomaterials other than apatite affects cell adhesion on polymer 16 , glass microscope slides 17 , yttria partially stabilized zirconia 18 , poly (methyl methacrylate) 13 , and titanium 14,19 . Despite the differences in substrates or methods for the improvement of surface wettability, changes in the surface wettability of biomaterials brought out advantages in cellular behaviors such as attachment and spreading.…”