Fibronectin and laminin enhance gingival cell attachment to dental implant surfaces in vitro

The objective of this study was to determine if the biologically active molecules laminin and fibronectin could influence gingival cell attachment to implant surfaces in vitro. Flat squares of the following implant materials were tested: smooth, plasma-sprayed, and hydroxyapatite-coated titanium. The surfaces were coated with equimolar quantities of either laminin, fibronectin, or bovine serum albumin. Fibronectin coating of implant surfaces resulted in two to three times the enhancement of gingival fibroblast binding on all implant surfaces tested (P < .01), with a lesser effect on epithelial cells. Laminin coating resulted in three to four times the enhancement of gingival epithelial cell binding on all implant surfaces tested (P < .01), with a lesser effect on fibroblasts. The two cell types exhibited distinct preferences for the different molecules tested with the surface roughness having some influence.