Epithelial cell functionality on electroconductive Fe/Sr co-doped biphasic calcium phosphate

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials Science
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Dental implants require materials that interact favorably with bone, gingival, and connective tissues.
• The interaction of implant coatings with epithelial cells is crucial for successful integration but requires further scientific validation.
• Co-doped bioceramics, specifically iron (Fe) and strontium (Sr) in biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), offer unexplored potential for dental applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively evaluate the electrical properties of Fe/Sr co-doped BCP samples.
• To assess the cytocompatibility of these co-doped BCPs with epithelial (vero) cells.
• To investigate the impact of co-doping on epithelial cell adhesion, viability, functionality, and marker expression.

Main Methods:

• Sol-gel synthesis was used to prepare Sr/Fe co-doped BCPs with varying dopant concentrations.
• Electrical conductivity of the prepared samples was measured.
• Cellular studies involved assessing cell viability, functionality, and adhesion on the BCP samples.
• Real-time PCR and immunofluorescence were employed to analyze the expression of epithelial markers (E-cadherin, β-catenin) and polarity proteins (PARD3).

Main Results:

• Co-doping with Sr/Fe significantly increased the electrical conductivity of BCP, with conductivity rising with higher dopant concentrations.
• Cellular studies demonstrated a significant increase in epithelial cell viability and functionality correlated with increased sample conductivity (p=0.01).
• Epithelial cell adhesion was enhanced, and expression of E-cadherin and PARD3 significantly increased (p=0.01) in co-doped samples, indicating improved epithelial sealing and cellular organization.
• β-catenin expression remained unchanged, suggesting no tumorigenic potential.

Conclusions:

• Fe/Sr co-doped BCPs exhibit enhanced electrical conductivity and promote epithelial cell adhesion, viability, and functionality.
• These findings establish Sr/Fe co-doped BCPs as promising candidates for dental implant coatings, facilitating faster epithelial sealing and potentially reducing infection.
• The modulation of epithelial marker expression and cellular polarity proteins highlights the material's biocompatibility and suitability for dental restorative applications.