# Influence of the Topography of Zirconium Treated with Laser Micropatterning on Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells: An In Vitro Study

## TL;DR

This study examines how laser-micropatterned zirconium surfaces affect the adhesion and growth of periodontal ligament stem cells in a lab setting.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel analysis of how specific laser-micropatterned zirconium topographies influence stem cell behavior for dental applications.

## Key findings

- Grid and channel topographies on zirconium showed the best cell adhesion.
- Moderately rough and regular surfaces promoted better cell proliferation.
- Confocal and scanning electron microscopy confirmed improved cell morphology on modified surfaces.

## Abstract

Zirconium is a widely used material in the field of dentistry, employed for implants and their components as well as for the creation of crowns and veneers. Given that its biocompatibility has been studied and demonstrated in various fields of application, it is necessary to analyze how surface modification of this material influences its properties. The purpose of this study was to analyze the biocompatibility, initial adhesion (48 h), and morphology of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) seeded on different zirconium surfaces treated with laser micropatterning, as well as plastic coverslips as a control. The Neubauer chamber was used to count the cells adhered to each of the sets, and confocal and scanning electron microscopy were employed to examine the adhesion and morphology of periodontal ligament stem cells on each of the zirconium surfaces studied. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in terms of primary cell adhesion, with sets 3 (grid topography) and 4 (channel topography) showing the most favorable characteristics for fibroblast adhesion. It was concluded that regular and moderately rough surfaces promoted better cell proliferation and development.