Effects of zirconia micron coating on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of zirconia micro coating on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts on the surface of zirconia ceramic, and to provide a strategy for zirconia implant surface treatment. Methods: Forty tablets of zirconia ceramic, with the diameter of 15 mm and the thickness of 1.5 mm, were prepared. Then, twenty tablets polished by water sandpaper were taken as the control group, and 20 pieces of the zirconia coating after sintering micron were taken as the experimental group. The micromorphology of the surface of the two groups were observed by scanning electron microscope. The cell morphology after inoculation with MC3T3-E1 of osteoblasts on the surface of the material was investigated for 1, 3, and 5 days by scanning electron microscope. The cell proliferation was detected at 1 and 3 days by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium. The cell differentiation ability was detected at 3 and 7 days by real-time quantitative PCR. Statistical analysis was conducted by independent sample t test. Results: After coating with zirconia micron particles, pores with the diameter of 1-20 μm could be observed on the surface of the test group of tiles through high temperature sintering. The growth of osteoblasts on the surface of the ceramic chip in the test group and control group exhibited the similar cell morphology. As they were cultured for 1 day, the experimental group exhibited a similar quality of cells as those in the test group (P>0.05). After 3 days' incubation, comparing with the cell quality of the test group (1.067 ± 0.077) (P<0.05), the quality of osteoblasts on the surface of zirconia ceramics coating increased to 1.763±0.165, and the expression of mRNA in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopotin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN) also increased with the amount of 1.63±0.28, 1.99±0.41 and 1.60±0.30, respectively, compared with the test group (1.00± 0.00) (P<0.05). Seven days later, the expression of mRNA in Runt-related transcription factor-2 (RNUX2) (1.33±0.19), special AT-rich sequence binding protein-2 (SATB2) (1.64 ± 0.36), as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (1.78±0.40), OPN (2.25±0.36), and OCN (1.88±0.21), showed a remarkably increase compared with the test group (1.00±0.00) (P<0.05). Conclusions: Zirconia micro coating on the surface of zirconia ceramics promoted the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts adhered.