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Effects of S53P4 bioactive glass coatings on double-size laser-textured zirconia substrates: cell adhesion and mineralisation behaviour

Pereira LM, Nawaz Q, Ferreira NM, Pereira AB, Detsch R, Boccaccini AR, Mesquita-Guimarães J (2026)

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Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Book Volume: 52

Pages Range: 131-145

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.11.242

Abstract

Commercial zirconia dental implants are usually surface-treated by well-established methods to improve osseointegration, traditionally relying on grit blasting and acid-etching procedures. However, laser surface texturing (LST) has recently emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to treat zirconia implants, offering the capability to create designed textures that demonstrate significant potential to enhance osseointegration. This study proposes a double-size texture and their complementary geometrical surfaces to promote cell adhesion. In addition, we analysed bioactive coatings based on S53P4 bioactive glass (53 wt% SiO2, 23 wt%Na2O, 20 wt% CaO, 4 wt% P2O5) to explore the best physical and chemical conditions to boost zirconia dental implant osseointegration. Three textures were obtained via LST: i) a cross-linked groove texture with squared ridges, ii) an aligned micropits texture, and iii) a double-size texture consisting of overlapping the previous ones. The samples were coated by immersion in a sol-gel bioactive glass solution (S53P4 composition) and submitted to two different thermal treatments: conventional treatment (CT) and laser treatment (LT). The CT coatings presented partial crystallinity, while LT coatings exhibited an amorphous state. The micropits texture demonstrated the most consistent results for both treatments (CT and LT), corroborating previous evidence that morphological structures with similar dimensions of the cultured cells improve cellular adhesion. Regarding mineralisation behaviour, CT coatings achieved higher apatite-like crystals deposition after 28 days in simulated body fluid (SBF). The amorphous LT coatings exhibited significantly higher - cell adhesion and viability. This result suggests that smoother surfaces preserve the original texture, while the amorphous state facilitates cell adhesion and improves cell viability. Therefore, this study suggests the combination of aligned micropits texture and LT as the best morphological and chemical conditions for the initial stages of osseointegration, promoting extracellular matrix deposition of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells, which is an essential step for subsequent mineralisation and bone formation.

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APA:

Pereira, L.M., Nawaz, Q., Ferreira, N.M., Pereira, A.B., Detsch, R., Boccaccini, A.R., & Mesquita-Guimarães, J. (2026). Effects of S53P4 bioactive glass coatings on double-size laser-textured zirconia substrates: cell adhesion and mineralisation behaviour. Ceramics International, 52(1), 131-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.11.242

MLA:

Pereira, L. M., et al. "Effects of S53P4 bioactive glass coatings on double-size laser-textured zirconia substrates: cell adhesion and mineralisation behaviour." Ceramics International 52.1 (2026): 131-145.

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