Biocompatibility of polymer-infiltrated-ceramic-network (PICN) materials with Human Gingival Keratinocytes (HGKs)

- Titanium (Ti) and zirconia (Zi) gave the best results in terms of HGK behavior.
- PICNs exhibited intermediate results between Ti-Zi and lithium disilicate glass-ceramic.
- No monomer release, nor indirect cytotoxicity, was found for PICNs.
- Good results for PICNs could be explained by their innovative polymerization mode.
- Clinical impact of these results needs to be investigated on bone-level implants.

ObjectiveBiocompatibility of polymer-infiltrated-ceramic-network (PICN) materials, a new class of CAD-CAM composites, is poorly explored in the literature, in particular, no data are available regarding Human Gingival Keratinocytes (HGK). The first objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro biocompatibility of PICNs with HGKs in comparison with other materials typically used for implant prostheses. The second objective was to correlate results with PICN monomer release and indirect cytotoxicity.MethodsHGK attachment, proliferation and spreading on PICN, grade V titanium (Ti), yttrium zirconia (Zi), lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (eM) and polytetrafluoroethylene (negative control) discs were evaluated using a specific insert-based culture system. For PICN and eM samples, monomer release in the culture medium was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography and indirect cytotoxicity tests were performed.ResultsTi and Zi exhibited the best results regarding HGK viability, number and coverage. eM showed inferior results while PICN showed statistically similar results to eM but also to Ti regarding cell number and to Ti and Zi regarding cell viability. No monomer release from PICN discs was found, nor indirect cytotoxicity, as for eM.SignificanceThe results confirmed the excellent behavior of Ti and Zi with gingival cells. Even if polymer based, PICN materials exhibited intermediate results between Ti-Zi and eM. These promising results could notably be explained by PICN high temperature-high pressure (HT-HP) innovative polymerization mode, as confirmed by the absence of monomer release and indirect cytotoxicity.

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