Osteogenic Enhancement of Zirconia-Toughened Alumina with Silicon Nitride and Bioglass®

Abstract

Alumina (Al2O3) ceramic implants do not stimulate osteoblasts in vivo. Surface alterations targeted at changing the chemistry or topography have been proposed to enhance the bioactivity of alumina. This surface modification is intended to improve oxide bioceramic’s ability to integrate with the biological environment and, in particular, to rapidly osteointegrate. In this study, the surface of zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) was functionalized using two methods: (i) Surface laser-patterning and successive filling of patterned wells with powder mixtures of bioglass and Si3N4; and, (ii) Si3N4 coating by pulse-laser sintering. Functionalized ZTA surfaces were characterized with vibrational spectroscopy, biological testing, and laser microscopy. Both enhancements resulted in osteoblast activation, a property that is relevant to osteosynthesis.

Silicon Nitride Inactivates SARS-CoV-2in vitro

“…31 An advantage of Si3N4 toward the potential development of antiviral and antibacterial surfaces is the versatility of the material; thus sintered Si3N4 has been incorporated into polymers, bioactive glasses, and even other ceramics to create composites and coatings that retain the favorable osteogenic and antibacterial properties of Si3N4. [32][33][34][35][36] We recognize that this study has limitations; a powdered form of doped-Si3N4 was used, rather than the monolithic material employed as spine implants. While this study demonstrates that this powdered form of doped-Si3N4 is an effective antiviral agent, future studies will need to show that its viricidal efficacy is retained when compounded into or coated onto other materials such as polymers, paints, metals, fabrics, or ceramics.…”

Exploring the cellular antioxidant mechanism against cytotoxic silver nanoparticles: a Raman spectroscopic analysis

“…Unlike traditional methods, Raman spectroscopy provides label-free and non-invasive probing capabilities, allowing researchers to directly observe molecular changes within living cells. 30,31 Indeed, Raman microspectroscopy has been employed for the characterization of biochemical evolution during cellular differentiation, 32,33 neuronal cell networking and separation, 34 metabolic changes in cancer cells 35,36 and apoptosis. 37,38 In the nano-toxicology context, this technique can have the advantageous ability to provide detailed information on cellular component alterations, which can be correlated with cytotoxic responses, oxidative stress, or inflammation induced by nanomaterial exposure.…”

Identification and visualization of cell subgroups in uncompensated flow cytometry data

“…In vitro characterization of the samples showed that mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) proliferated and differentiated on the silicon nitride. Based on the in vitro cultures, the mesenchymal cells attach better to the edges than of the surfaces for the sample fabricated by pore former method [4,12,13]. Beside production techniques, porosity and surface properties (roughness and functions) are effective parameters on cell viability and proliferation capacity of silicon nitride ceramics.…”