Abstract
Biomimetic design provides novel opportunities for enhancing and functionalizing biomaterials. Here we created a zirconia surface with cactus-inspired meso-scale spikes and bone-inspired nano-scale trabecular architecture and examined its biological activity in bone generation and integration. Crisscrossing laser etching successfully engraved 60 μm wide, cactus-inspired spikes on yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) with 200–300 nm trabecular bone-inspired interwoven structures on the entire surface. The height of the spikes was varied from 20 to 80 μm for optimization. Average roughness (Sa) increased from 0.10 μm (polished smooth surface) to 18.14 μm (80 μm-high spikes), while the surface area increased by up to 4.43 times. The measured dimensions of the spikes almost perfectly correlated with their estimated dimensions (R2 = 0.998). The dimensional error of forming the architecture was 1% as a coefficient of variation. Bone marrow-derived osteoblasts were cultured on a polished surface and on meso- and nano-scale hybrid textured surfaces with different spike heights. The osteoblastic differentiation was significantly promoted on the hybrid-textured surfaces compared with the polished surface, and among them the hybrid-textured surface with 40 μm-high spikes showed unparalleled performance. In vivo bone-implant integration also peaked when the hybrid-textured surface had 40 μm-high spikes. The relationships between the spike height and measures of osteoblast differentiation and the strength of bone and implant integration were non-linear. The controllable creation of meso- and nano-scale hybrid biomimetic surfaces established in this study may provide a novel technological platform and design strategy for future development of biomaterial surfaces to improve bone integration and regeneration.
Highlights
Bio-inspired or biomimetic design of biomaterials presents new possibilities for developing implantable devices with enhanced biocompatibility and novel functions [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
Most of the advancements far in implant surface design to improve their ability to integrate with bone can be characterized as development of micro-topography to enhance osteoblastic function [21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32]
A major challenge remains unsolved with respect to how distinct meso- (10 to 500 μm) and nano-scale surface topography can be created, and more importantly, the osteoblastic reaction to these scales of morphology/roughness is largely untested
Summary
Bio-inspired or biomimetic design of biomaterials presents new possibilities for developing implantable devices with enhanced biocompatibility and novel functions [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. No study has yet reported a potential application of biomimetic surface morphology, at the nano-level, to endosseous implants for commercial use in the fields of dental and orthopedic surgery [9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20]. Most of the advancements far in implant surface design to improve their ability to integrate with bone can be characterized as development of micro-topography to enhance osteoblastic function [21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32]. Establishing a technological platform and accompanying design strategy on an experimental yet scalable manufacturing level would provide an initial solution for these important outstanding questions in the field
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