Atomic Layer Deposition of Zirconia on Titanium Implants Improves Osseointegration in Rabbit Bones

Abstract

Hong-Joo Kim,1 Seon-Ki Lee,2 Hyun-Seung Kim,3 Won-Jae Kim,4 Je-Hwang Ryu,5 Min-Kyung Ji,6 Hyun-Pil Lim1 1Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; 2Department of Prosthodontics, Daejeon Dental Hospital, Wonkwang University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; 3KJ Meditech Co., Ltd, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; 4Department of Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry, Stem cell Secretome Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; 5Department of Pharmacology and Dental Therapeutics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; 6Dental 4D Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Hyun-Pil Lim, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea, Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected] Min-Kyung Ji, Dental 4D Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea, Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected]: Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a method that can deposit zirconia uniformly on an atomic basis. The effect of deposited zirconia on titanium implants using ALD was evaluated in vivo.Methods: Machined titanium implants (MTIs) were used as the Control. MTIs treated by sandblasting with large grit and acid etching (SA) and MTIs deposited with zirconia using ALD are referred to as Groups S and Z, respectively. Twelve implants were prepared for each group. Six rabbits were used as experimental animals. To evaluate the osteogenesis and osteocyte aspects around the implants, radiological and histological analyses were performed. The bone-to-implant contact (BIC) ratio was measured and statistically analyzed to evaluate the osseointegration capabilities.Results: In the micro-CT analysis, more radiopaque bone tissues were observed around the implants in Groups S and Z. Histological observation found that Groups S and Z had more and denser mature bone tissues around the implants in the cortical bone area. Many new and mature bone tissues were also observed in the medullary cavity area. For the BIC ratio, Groups S and Z were significantly higher than the Control in the cortical bone area (P < 0.017), but there was no significant difference between Groups S and Z.Conclusion: MTIs deposited with zirconia using ALD (Group Z) radiologically and histologically showed more mature bone formation and activated osteocytes compared with MTIs (Control). Group Z also had a significantly higher BIC ratio than the Control. Within the limitations of this study, depositing zirconia on the surface of MTIs using ALD can improve osseointegration in vivo.Keywords: atomic layer deposition, ALD, zirconia, machined titanium implant, bone-to-implant contact ratio, BIC, osseointegration

Keywords

• atomic layer deposition
• zirconia
• machined titanium implant
• bone-to-implant contact (bic) ratio
• osseointegration