Polycrystalline particulates synthesized on zirconia for enhanced bioactivity: An in vitro study

• Published in: Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials Vol. 111; no. 1; pp. 117 - 126
• Main Authors: Tang, Shuang, Ding, Ning, Zhang, Zutai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2023; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Alkaline phosphatase; Bend strength; bioactivity; Biocompatibility; Biological activity; Biomedical materials; Calcium chloride; Cell growth; Cell proliferation; Cell spreading; Ceramics - chemistry; Cholecystokinin; Dental implants; Dental prosthetics; Fluorescence; Gene expression; Hydrofluoric acid; in situ synthesized; Materials research; Materials science; Materials Testing; Mechanical properties; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Mineralization; Osteogenesis; Particulates; polycrystalline particulates; Polycrystals; Scanning electron microscopy; Sodium hydroxide; Spectrometry; Surface Properties; Surface roughness; Synthesis; Teeth; Transplants & implants; Zirconia; Zirconium - chemistry; Zirconium dioxide; zirconia; osteogenesis; bioactivity; polycrystalline particulates; in situ synthesized
• ISSN: 1552-4973; 1552-4981
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.35138

Zirconia is a promising material for dental implant with its excellent biocompatibility, good mechanical properties, and esthetic effect similar to natural teeth. To improve the bioactivity and osteogenic properties of zirconia, pre‐sintered zirconia discs were divided into C, T3, T5, and T7 group. Group C was as control. T3, T5, and T7 groups were soaked in hydrofluoric acid (HF) for 30, 50, and 70 s, respectively. Then, they were placed into CaCl2 solution and heated in NaOH solution. After sintering, the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and X‐ray diffraction, which confirmed the ZrO2 polycrystalline particulates in situ synthesized on the treated sample discs. The surface roughness of the treated samples was increased with the prolonged of acid treatment time (p < .05), while the three‐point bending strength did not decrease significantly (p > .05). MC3T3‐E1 cells were cultured on zirconia discs to evaluate the bioactivity and osteogenic effect of modified zirconia. The living&dead fluorescence staining and CCK‐8 assay showed that the specimens were non‐toxic and significantly promoted cell proliferation. In addition, the cell proliferation was enhanced with the increase of zirconia surface roughness. Polycrystalline particles modified zirconia were beneficial to cell spreading. After osteogenic induction, MC3T3‐E1 cells inoculated on modified zirconia exhibited higher alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization activity and up‐regulated osteogenesis‐related gene expression. Above all, in situ synthesized polycrystalline particulates significantly improve the biological activity of zirconia, which will promote the widespread application of zirconia implants.