Zirconia surface functionalization by laser with antimicrobial nanoparticles for dental applications

Abstract

Dental implants are considered the best solution for missing teeth but are sometimes associated with complications such as peri-implantitis, which is caused by bacteria and is characterized by tissue inflammation and bone loss which causes dental implants to fail over time [1]. Metal nanoparticles (NPs) can be a good antibacterial agent to be employed in dental implantology to prevent this pathology [2]. Zirconia, namely tetragonal polycrystalline zirconia stabilized with 3 mol% yttrium oxide (Y-TZP) has been a material of interest, for dental implantology, due to being more cosmetic appealing than titanium, having good mechanical properties such as low thermal conductivity, good fracture resistance, suitable flexural strength, high corrosion and wear resistance and also presenting low bacteria affinity and good biocompatibility [2]. The present work was designed to, first, produce and characterize three different types of nanoparticles (gold, magnesium and zinc), obtained by laser ablation in distilled water and a surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), using a Nd:YAG laser system. Secondly, validate their adhesion to zirconia surfaces, using laser subtractive and additive manufacturing methodologies such as laser surface texturing with a Nd:YAG laser, and laser surface sintering with a CO2 laser, respectively (as schematically shown in Figure 1). And finally, with the surfaces prepared, the antibacterial efficacy and cytotoxicity of these surfaces were addressed, to confirm their potential use as a functionalized antibacterial surface for dental implant abutments, to prevent peri-implantitis disease.