Please login first
Bioinspired channel-embedded porous zirconia surfaces for dental implants fibrointegration: fabrication, characterization and in vitro evaluation
* 1 , 1 , 1 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 1
1  Center for Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems (CMEMS-UMinho), University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058, Portugal
2  Center for Translational Research on Autoimmune and Allergic Disease, CAAD, Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, 28100, Italy
3  Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University Foundation, Aalto, Espoo, 00076, Finland
Academic Editor: Qingchun Yuan

Abstract:

Dental implants are widely used to replace missing teeth. Typically cylindrical or tapered with threads, they are commonly made of commercially pure titanium (CP Ti) or its Ti6Al4V alloy. These implants are osseointegrated, forming a rigid connection with the surrounding alveolar bone. However, unlike natural teeth, they lack critical periodontal structures such as the periodontal ligament (PDL) and cementum. This absence can lead to stress concentration, bacterial infiltration, and increased risk of implant failure. These limitations underscore the need for bioinspired designs that replicate the structural and functional integration of natural teeth. This study introduces a fibrointegration concept inspired by the natural tooth-PDL-bone interface. Zirconia was explored as a promising alternative to titanium due to its high mechanical strength, excellent biocompatibility, and effective osseointegration. Its tooth-like color improves aesthetics and reduces plaque accumulation. Zirconia specimens with internal micro-channels and an external porous surface were designed to mimic dentinal tubules and cementum functions, respectively. These were fabricated using CAD/CAM and dip-coating techniques, then characterized. The impact of these structural features on cell behavior was assessed using human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPLFs) in vitro. Electrical impedance spectroscopy was performed between 1 and 100 kHz to gain further insights into cell adhesion and activity. Results showed that channel-embedded porous zirconia surfaces exhibited superhydrophilic behavior and strong capillary effects, facilitating rapid fluid uptake-key factors for fibroblast attachment and guided growth. All specimens demonstrated biocompatibility with hPLFs, with the highest fibroblast proliferation observed on surfaces combining both micro-channels and porosity. SEM images confirmed cell embedding within the porous structure. Electrical impedance measurements after 3 days of culture revealed the highest impedance values for the channel-porous specimens, indicating enhanced cell adhesion, migration, and spreading. These findings show that channel-porous zirconia surfaces can smartly guide fibroblast growth, supporting the design of bioinspired implants for functional fibrointegration.

Keywords: Bioinspired; zirconia; dental implants.
Top