Affiliations: Department of Orthopaedics, Putuo Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China | Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China | State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Junying Sun, Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China. Tel.: +86 512 67780249; Fax: +86 512 67780237; E-mail: sunjy.suda@hotmail.com
Abstract: Zirconia films were prepared on titanium by cathodic arc deposition technique. The surface topography and element composition of the films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. Osteoblast-like MG63 cells were cultured on the surface of the zirconia films in vitro, and cell behaviour was investigated, with titanium as control. The results obtained from scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence studies showed that the MG63 cells on ZrO2 films spread better than those on Ti. The CCK8 assay indicated that the zirconia films promoted the proliferation of MG63 cells. The results of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity test and the expression of osteogenic marker genes, such as ALP, collagen I and osteocalcin, demonstrated that the differentiation of MG63 cells might be enhanced by zirconia films. In addition, the zirconia films possibly regulated osteoclastogenic gene expression by stimulating the expression of osteoprotegerin and reducing the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand. The present work suggests that the ZrO2 film is worth further consideration for orthopedic implant applications.
