Tailoring Silicon Nitride Surface Chemistry for Facilitating Odontogenic Differentiation of Rat Dental Pulp Cells

Abstract

Silicon nitride (Si3N4) can facilitate bone formation; hence, it is used as a biomaterial in orthopedics. Nevertheless, its usability for dentistry is unexplored. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Si3N4 granules for the proliferation and odontogenic differentiation of rat dental pulp cells (rDPCs). Four different types of Si3N4 granules were prepared, which underwent different treatments to form pristine as-synthesized Si3N4, chemically treated Si3N4, thermally treated Si3N4, and Si3N4 sintered with 3 wt.% yttrium oxide (Y2O3). rDPCs were cultured on or around the Si3N4 granular beds. Compared with the other three types of Si3N4 granules, the sintered Si3N4 granules significantly promoted cellular attachment, upregulated the expression of odontogenic marker genes (Dentin Matrix Acidic Phosphoprotein 1 and Dentin Sialophosphoprotein) in the early phase, and enhanced the formation of mineralization nodules. Furthermore, the water contact angle of sintered Si3N4 was also greatly increased to 40°. These results suggest that the sintering process for Si3N4 with Y2O3 positively altered the surface properties of pristine as-synthesized Si3N4 granules, thereby facilitating the odontogenic differentiation of rDPCs. Thus, the introduction of a sintering treatment for Si3N4 granules is likely to facilitate their use in the clinical application of dentistry.

3D-Printed PEEK/Silicon Nitride Scaffolds with a Triply Periodic Minimal Surface Structure for Spinal Fusion Implants

“…Moreover, these results align with previous studies highlighting the superior properties of silicon nitride in stimulating osteoblast differentiation and promoting new bone formation. 11 , 45 − 47 48 For example, Lee et al 45 developed a silicon nitride reinforced gelatin/chitosan cryogel system (SiN-GC) by incorporating silicon nitride microparticles into a gelatin/chitosan cryogel (GC). Their findings confirmed enhanced cell proliferation, mineralization, and upregulation of osteogenic genes in MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cells cultured on SiN-GC scaffolds compared to GC scaffolds.…”

Comparison of Material Properties for Dental Implants: Titanium, Polyetheretherketone, Zirconium and Silicon Nitride

“…In the case of Si3N4, there is currently a limited number of studies applied to the dental area, despite the fact that there are studies of its biological response since 1989 [37]. Some interesting characteristics of this material is that it shows resistance to bacteria and to biofilm formation in in vivo studies [38,39].…”

“…On the other hand, in the case of humans, applications have been made mainly focused on surgical procedures such as: spine surgery [167], orthopedics [168], maxillofacial [169] among others [170]. Finally, Si3N4 there are very few publications in in vivo studies, but despite this there are some works reported in animals [37,83,171]. Finally, in the case of human studies, spinal and lumbar prosthetic applications have been made [172,173].…”