Effect of Electron Beam Treatment of Composite ATZ and TZP Ceramics on Surface Topography and Reaction of Osteoblast-Like Cells

We present the effect of electron beam treatment on the surface roughness of composite ceramics as well as on the behavior of osteoblast-like cells seeded on the surface. Aluminum oxide and zirconium dioxide based composite ceramics and tetragonal zirconium dioxide stabilized yttrium oxide based ceramics were selected as materials. Sandblasting and electron beam treatment were used as surface modification methods. Micrographs of the sample surface and section after electron beam treatment are presented. Differentiation at the stage of osteoblast formation was assessed by the expression of osteocalcin (BGLAP) genes. An increase in the expression of BGLAP gene responsible for osteocalcin production after surface modification by electron beam was shown. The BGLAP gene expression was higher on tetragonal zirconium dioxide stabilized with yttrium oxide material, compared to a composite material based on zirconium dioxide with the addition of 20% aluminum oxide, at all roughness values studied, including polished surface. To analyze cell proliferation, they were stained with alizarin red on the surface of a zirconium dioxide material stabilized with yttrium oxide. It has been shown that an increase in roughness leads to increased cell proliferation.