PURPOSE: Optimized surface properties are a pivotal factor for dental ceramic implants and overall implant success. After grit-blasting and spray-coating Aluminum Toughened Zirconia (ATZ) ceramic samples with a glass solder, the biological cell response was examined and compared to uncoated and solely grit-blasted samples of the same ceramic. METHODS: In this study, a silica-based glass solder was evaluated for cytocompatibility, osteogenic differentiation, and hemocompatibility using L929 mouse fibroblasts and human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). RESULTS: No toxic effects were observed for either coated or uncoated ATZ samples in direct or indirect tests, as assessed by live/dead staining. Differentiation and viability assays with HDPCs and L929 mouse fibroblasts showed no toxicity, and osteogenic differentiation was not impaired by the coating. Hemocompatibility testing with human whole blood revealed similar results for coated and uncoated ceramic specimens, with no hemolysis or adverse effects on standard hematological parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The glass solder coating was cytocompatible and hemocompatible under the tested in vitro conditions and did not impede osteogenic differentiation. These findings indicate that it can serve as a suitable substrate for the proliferation and spreading of L929 fibroblasts and HDPCs, with potential benefits for improving dental ceramic implant surfaces.
Fuest et al. (Wed,) studied this question.