Fabrication of enamel-like structure on polymer-infiltrated zirconia ceramics
Ke Li1, Huamin Kou2, Jiancun Rao3
1State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China; Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Objectives:
The aim of this study is to improve the biological and mechanical properties of zirconia-based PICN (polymer-infiltrated-ceramic-network) materials by fabrication an enamel-like structure on its surface.
Methods:
Fluorapatite (FA) arrays were fabricated on zirconia discs by hydrothermal treatment. After polymer infiltration, an enamel-like structure was obtained on zirconia-based PICN materials. Effects of hydrothermal treatment conditions on the FA arrays were investigated by XRD, FTIR and SEM. Human gingival fibroblast cells (HGFs) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were used to evaluate the cytocompatibility and antibacterial properties. Nanoindentation method was employed to determine elastic modulus and hardness.
Results:
A facile and pervasive method was developed in this study to fabricate an enamel-like structure constituted of controlled FA arrays and interstitial resin on zirconia-based PICN materials. The obtained FA arrays can significantly promote the adhesion and proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs), and further effectively inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli. Owing to the hierarchical structure, the enamel-like structure has achieved a hardness of 1.79 GPa and a lower Young's modulus of 37.4 GPa.
Significances:
The enamel-like structure, with excellent biological and mechanical properties, is promising for various applications in dentistry.
