Effect of roughness of zirconia and titanium on fibroblast adhesion

The aim of this study was to investigate the adhesion (4 and 24 h) and the morphology of fibroblast Balb/c 3T3 seeded onto polystyrene, partially stabilized (ZrO2Y2O3), stabilized zirconia ceramic (3YTZP), and pure titanium (Ti, grade 2). Initial cell adhesion (4 h) was greater (P < 0.05, analysis of variance and Tukey's Multiple Comparisons Test) onto ZrO2Y2O3 and polystyrene than in Ti and 3YTZ. After 24 h, the number of adhered cells was similar between the biomaterials tested, but smaller than onto polystyrene (P < 0.05). Cells were more spread onto glass surface after 4 h, but after 24 h, the morphology and density of the cells were similar in all groups (SEM). Profilometry showed distinct Ra values for each material: glass coverslips and ZrO2Y2O3 (0.09 mu m), Ti (0.88 mu m), and 3YTZP (30.93 mu m). It was concluded that ZrO2Y2O3 promoted the best initial adhesion, thus indicating that surfaces with Ra values smaller than 0.1 mu m could be more favorable to initial adhesion.