N. García de Albéniz et al. Peptidic biofunctionalization of infiltrated zirconia scaffolds produced by direct ink writing. Ceramics International

N. Garcia-de-Albeniz, L. Hodásová, J. Buxadera-Palomero, E. Jiménez-Piqué, M.P. Ginebra, L. Llanes, C. Alemán, E. Armelin, C. Mas-Moruno, G. Fargas. Peptidic biofunctionalization of infiltrated zirconia scaffolds produced by direct ink writing. Ceramics International 2024.

doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.07.088

Abstract

Porous zirconia scaffolds manufactured using polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (PICN) and additive manufacturing technologies are emerging as promising alternatives to traditional ceramic materials in dental restorations. However, incomplete osseointegration and bacterial infections still represent challenges for the long-term performance of this new composite material. To address this, the present study aims to investigate the effect of peptide biofunctionalization on the biological performance of infiltrated zirconia scaffold surfaces. The samples used in the work consisted of a 3D-printed zirconia scaffold infiltrated with a dimethacrylate copolymer. Surface biofunctionalization was achieved using a synthetic platform containing the cell-adhesive sequence RGD and the antibacteria LF1-11 peptide (RGD-LF). The attachment of the molecule was characterized through fluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The biological performance of the samples was evaluated in terms of human mesenchymal stem cell adhesion and early attachment of S. aureus. The physicochemical characterization verified the successful anchoring of the biomolecule to the surface, leading to a peptide density of 288 pmol/cm2. The biological assays confirmed the potential of RGD-LF to improve cell adhesion and spreading. In this sense, the average cell area increased fourfold in the biofunctionalized surface. Regarding bacterial adhesion, it was demonstrated that RGD-LF significantly inhibited it, reducing early adhesion by half compared to the untreated surface. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the biofunctionalization of polymer-infiltrated 3D scaffolds for the development of cell-instructive and antibacterial surfaces tailored for dental applications.