Laser surface treatment of magnesia partially stabilized zirconia for enhanced human skin fibroblast cell response

Promoting or inhibiting cell adhesion to biomaterials is often crucial to the proper function of a biomaterial. In order to induce a surface with better bioactivity for promoting the bonding between the tissue and this bioinert ceramic interface, an industrial CO₂ laser was used to alter the surface properties of magnesia (MgO)-partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) with various laser power densities. The general effects of CO₂ laser radiation on the MgO-PSZ were analyzed to investigate the modifications of surface microstructure, surface oxygen content, and surface roughness of the material. In in vitro evaluation, human skin fibroblast cells were seen to attach onto the MgO-PSZ following CO₂ laser treatment, whereas, no cell attachment was found on the untreated MgO-PSZ after 7 day cell culture. Moreover, some cells on the CO₂ laser treated MgO-PSZ could be considered as flattened and spread, implying the final stage of the cell attachment. A relationship was observed between the extent of cell attachment and surface properties of the MgO-PSZ with various laser power densities, exhibiting the ability of laser surface process for controlling the cell attachment.