ZrO2 surface chemically coated with hyaluronic acid hydrogel loading GDF-5 for osteogenesis in dentistry

The objective of this study was to modify zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) with photo-cured hyaluronic acid hydrogel (pcHAgel), and to subsequently evaluate the bone regeneration potential of the modified ZrO2. In the present study. HA grafted onto a ZrO2 substrate was investigated for its biocompatibility and other properties. We describe the positive influences of ZrO2 surface-modified with pcHAgel (Zr-3) containing two different loads of growth and differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) to aid new bone formation as compared to the same amount of BMP-2 (Zr-4-7). We characterized the Zr-3 for their surface morphology and chemical properties. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Xray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the pcHAgel was successfully grafted onto the ZrO2 surface. The sustained release of GDF-5 and BMP-2 were observed to occur in the Zr-4-7. In vitro cell tests showed a higher level of MG63 cell proliferation and differentiation on Zr-4-7 than on Zr-3. The Zr-3 is a good biomaterial to deliver osteogenic differentiation factors such as BMP-2 and GDF-5, and GDF-5 can be useful as an effective alternative to aid new bone formation as compared to BMP-2. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.