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Enhanced Biological Performance of Fractal Geometry Design on Titanium for Dental Implant Application: An In Vitro
Hong Chen1, Rui Wang1, Siyun Wang1
1State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Department of Dental Materials, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an710000, China.
Fractal-designed titanium surfaces fabricated using selective laser melting (SLM) significantly enhance bone cell adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation. These advanced fractal geometries activate mechanotransduction pathways, promising improved dental implant osseointegration.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Surface Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Titanium's biocompatibility makes it ideal for dental implants.
- Surface topography significantly influences cellular response and osseointegration.
- Developing novel surface designs is crucial for enhancing implant performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the biological performance of fractal-designed titanium surfaces (Koch snowflake and Sierpinski pentagon) fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM).
- To assess the impact of hierarchical fractal geometry on rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (rBMMSC) behavior, including adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation.
- To investigate the underlying mechanotransduction pathways (Piezo1, ATF4) activated by fractal surface topography.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of fractal titanium specimens with varying hierarchical iterations using SLM.
- Comprehensive surface characterization (roughness, hydrophilicity).
- In vitro culture of rBMMSCs on fractal and smooth titanium surfaces, followed by assessments of cytotoxicity (CCK-8), cell viability (Live/Dead staining), adhesion, proliferation (DNA quantification), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization (Alizarin Red), and gene/protein expression (BMP2, RUNX2, OCN, COL-1, Piezo1, ATF4).
Main Results:
- Fractal surfaces exhibited increased hierarchical roughness and hydrophilicity compared to smooth controls.
- All specimens showed excellent cytocompatibility.
- Fractal designs significantly enhanced rBMMSC adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic activity from Day 7 onwards, with higher iterations yielding superior results.
- ALP activity, mineralization, and osteogenic marker expression were significantly upregulated on fractal surfaces.
- Fractal dimension independently contributed to cell proliferation, and higher-order iterations boosted ALP activity and mineralization by 60-80% compared to smooth surfaces.
- Fractal geometries activated Piezo1 and upregulated ATF4 expression.
Conclusions:
- Fractal microarchitectures enhance surface bioactivity through combined physical and biochemical cues.
- These geometries activate mechanotransduction pathways, promoting osteoblast differentiation.
- SLM-fabricated fractal-designed titanium implants offer a promising strategy for improving osseointegration and long-term stability in dental applications.
