HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF HUMAN GINGIVAL FIBROBLASTS ON DIFFERENT TITANIUM SURFACES

M. Di Girolamo¹ , F. Cecchetti² , M. Turco³, L. Baggi² , R. Calcaterra²

¹ Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
² Department of Social Dentistry and Gnathological Rehabilitation, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy
³ Private Practice, Rome, Italy

Correspondence to:

Annals of Stomatology 2022 January-April; 2(1): 23-29
https://doi.org/10.69129/stomatol/2022v2iss1_5

Received: 24 February 2022 Accepted: 22 March 2022

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Abstract

The aim of the research is to evaluate the response of cells such as fibroblasts to titanium surfaces treated differently. The reason why this type of cells was chosen is related to their role in the bone healing process and in the abutment adhesion, forming a barrier that protects the underlying bone. Human gingival fibroblasts cells (HGF) were cultured for 18 and 72 hours on machined titanium grade 5 (Ti6Al4V) interstitial elements (ELI) titanium disks, coated disks with titanium nitride (TiN) and sandblasted disks with hydroxyapatite (HA) (OsseoGRIP). Cell morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while focal adhesion kinase (FAK) protein was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). From the results of this study, it is clear that SEM and CLSM showed great HGF cell adhesion and filopodium-like extensions on the isotropic nanorough surface (OsseoGRIP), especially after 72 hours. FAK protein was localized along cellular extensions on the OsseoGRIP disks. Within the limits of the study, we could observe that the micro-geometric differences of the various surfaces analyzed lead to a difference in cell growth in qualitative and quantitative terms. In fact, the less rough TiN surfaces are those that show less fibroblast growth. This consideration may be important in implant systems that require a long transmucosal canal where it would be desirable, in order to compose a coronal seal important for implant and bone, to achieve good growth and adhesion of the connective part. For this is useful the application of the machined and OsseoGRIP type surfaces which, being rougher, allow better seal. OsseoGRIP surfaces, thanks to their 0.5 μm surface nano-roughness, allow both to obtain a good seal from soft tissues and to control bacterial adhesion.

Keywords: adhesion, bone healing process, endosseous implants, OsseoGRIP, titanium