Osteogenic Enhancement of Zirconia-Toughened Alumina with Silicon Nitride and Bioglass®

Alumina (Al2O3) ceramic implants do not stimulate osteoblasts in vivo. Surface alterations targeted at changing the chemistry or topography have been proposed to enhance the bioactivity of alumina. This surface modification is intended to improve oxide bioceramic’s ability to integrate with the biological environment and, in particular, to rapidly osteointegrate. In this study, the surface of zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) was functionalized using two methods: (i) Surface laser-patterning and successive filling of patterned wells with powder mixtures of bioglass and Si3N4; and, (ii) Si3N4 coating by pulse-laser sintering. Functionalized ZTA surfaces were characterized with vibrational spectroscopy, biological testing, and laser microscopy. Both enhancements resulted in osteoblast activation, a property that is relevant to osteosynthesis.