Abstract
Background: Titanium implant surfaces are continuously modified to improve biocompatibility and to promote osteointegration. Graphene oxide (GO) has been successfully used to ameliorate biomaterial performances, in terms of implant integration with host tissue. The aim of this study is to evaluate the Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) viability, cytotoxic response, and osteogenic differentiation capability in the presence of GO-coated titanium surfaces. Methods: Two titanium discs types, machined (control, Crtl) and sandblasted and acid-etched (test, Test) discs, were covalently functionalized with GO. The ability of the GO-functionalized substrates to allow the proliferation and differentiation of DPSCs, as well as their cytotoxic potential, were assessed. Results: The functionalization procedures provide a homogeneous coating with GO of the titanium surface in both control and test substrates, with unchanged surface roughness with respect to the untreated surfaces. All samples show the deposition of extracellular matrix, more pronounced in the test and GO-functionalized test discs. GO-functionalized test samples evidenced a significant viability, with no cytotoxic response and a remarkable early stage proliferation of DPSCs cells, followed by their successful differentiation into osteoblasts. Conclusions: The described protocol of GO-functionalization provides a novel not cytotoxic biomaterial that is able to stimulate cell viability and that better and more quickly induces osteogenic differentiation with respect to simple titanium discs. Our findings pave the way to exploit this GO-functionalization protocol for the production of novel dental implant materials that display improved integration with the host tissue.
Highlights
Pure titanium (Ti) is a substrate with excellent physico-chemical and mechanical properties, such as high biocompatibility, low density, resistance to corrosion, and durability [1]
Our model clearly revealed a SP7 increase in test + Graphene oxide (GO) following RUNX2 upregulation, confirming that osteoblastic differentiation progresses only when Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) were cultured on test + GO surface
Titanium surfaces were activated with piranha solution or by using a UV/ozone lamp and coated with GO via covalent bond formation
Summary
Pure titanium (Ti) is a substrate with excellent physico-chemical and mechanical properties, such as high biocompatibility, low density, resistance to corrosion, and durability [1] For all these reasons, Ti and its alloys are generally considered the most useful materials for the development of prosthetic implants [2]. As the surface topography exerts a significant impact on cell–implant interactions, chemical and physical strategies are frequently employed to improve its properties This processing positively influences the implant integration with the host tissue, and the clinical outcome. Conclusions: The described protocol of GO-functionalization provides a novel not cytotoxic biomaterial that is able to stimulate cell viability and that better and more quickly induces osteogenic differentiation with respect to simple titanium discs. Our findings pave the way to exploit this GO-functionalization protocol for the production of novel dental implant materials that display improved integration with the host tissue
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