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Published on: November 9, 2014
Human gingival fibroblast responses to additively and subtractively manufactured zirconia: An in vitro study
Yun Ma1, Yan-di Xie1, Zi-Yi Chen1
1Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key Laboratory of Fujian College and University, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, China; Department of Prosthodontics & Research Center of Dental Esthetics and Biomechanics, Fujian Medical University, China.
Objective:
To evaluate the biological responses of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) to zirconia fabricated via three additive manufacturing (AM) technologies - stereolithography (SLA), digital light processing (DLP), and material jetting (MJ) - with horizontal (0°) and vertical (90°) build orientations, in comparison with conventional subtractive manufacturing (SM).
Methods:
Square zirconia specimens (8 × 8 × 0.8 mm) were fabricated using SLA, DLP, and MJ (0° and 90° orientations), and SM. Surface properties were characterized via field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), water contact angle (WCA) measurements, and protein adsorption assays. HGF responses, including cell cytotoxicity, viability, proliferation, morphology, adhesion, and migration, were evaluated. The differences in gene expression profiles of HGFs on MJ90, DLP90, and SM surfaces were investigated using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq).
Results:
All AM-fabricated zirconia demonstrated excellent biocompatibility. Vertically oriented MJ90 and DLP90 surfaces displayed anisotropic textures characterized by lamellae or parallel bands, which guided HGF alignment along a uniform axis. HGFs on MJ90 surfaces demonstrated the fastest directional migration (91.60 ± 1.19 % at 12 h), followed by DLP90 (78.52 ± 2.86 % at 12 h), and exhibited the highest cell adhesion density (386.11 ± 18.01 cells/field at 24 h) (P < 0.05). RNA-Seq analysis revealed upregulation of soft-tissue-related genes in MJ90 and DLP90 compared to SM control, with MJ90 demonstrating a greater number of differentially expressed genes than DLP90.
Significance:
AM technologies, particularly MJ and DLP with vertical orientations, generate anisotropic surfaces that enhance HGF alignment, adhesion, and migration. These findings highlight the potential of AM-fabricated zirconia to improve soft-tissue integration in dental prostheses, offering superior outcomes compared to conventional SM techniques.
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