Boron-containing coating yields enhanced antimicrobial and mechanical effects on translucent zirconia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of boron-containing coating on translucent zirconia (5Y-PSZ). METHODS: 5Y-PSZ discs (Control) were coated with a glaze (Glaze), silver- (AgCoat), or boron-containing (BCoat) glasses. The coatings' antimicrobial potential was characterized using S. mutans biofilms after 48 h via viable colony-forming units (CFU), metabolic activity (CV) assays, and quantification of extracellular polysaccharide matrix (EPS). Biofilm architectures were imaged under scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopies (SEM and CLSM). The cytocompatibility was determined at 24 h via WST-1 and LIVE&DEAD assays using periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). The coatings' effects on properties were characterized by Vickers hardness, biaxial bending tests, and fractography analysis. Statistical analyses were performed via one-way ANOVA, Tukey's tests, Weibull analysis, and Pearson's correlation analysis. RESULTS: BCoat significantly decreased biofilm formation, having the lowest CFU and metabolic activity compared with the other groups. BCoat and AgCoat presented the lowest EPS, followed by Glaze and Control. SEM and CLSM images revealed that the biofilms on BCoat were thin and sparse, with lower biovolume. In contrast, the other groups yielded robust biofilms with higher biovolume. The cytocompatibility was similar in all groups. BCoat, AgCoat, and Glaze also presented similar hardness and were significantly lower than Control. BCoat had the highest flexural strength, characteristic strength and Weibull parameters (σF: 625 MPa; σ0: 620 MPa; m = 11.5), followed by AgCoat (σF: 464 MPa; σ0: 478 MPa; m = 5.3). SIGNIFICANCE: BCoat is a cytocompatible coating with promising antimicrobial properties that can improve the mechanical properties and reliability of 5Y-PSZ.

Borosilicate glass as a surface finishing alternative for improving the mechanical properties of third-generation zirconia.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of an experimental borosilicate glass on the mechanical and optical behavior of 5Y-PSZ zirconia and comparing it to commercial glaze and as-sintered. METHODS: Disc-shaped specimens of a 5Y-PSZ (Zpex Smile) were prepared and sintered (1550 °C, 2 h). The zirconia discs were randomly divided according to the surface treatment: as-sintered (C), commercial glaze (G), and experimental borosilicate glass (SL). Glaze and experimental glass powders were mixed with building liquids and applied to zirconia with a brush. G specimens were fired at 950 °C and SL at 1200 °C. An extended dwell time of 20 min was applied to both groups. Biaxial flexural strength, roughness (Ra and Rz), translucency (TP00), color alteration (ΔE00), Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, residual stresses, and x-ray diffraction analyses were conducted. Statistical analyses were performed with Weibull statistics, Kruskal-Wallis, or ANOVA tests (α = 5%). RESULTS: SL yielded the highest flexural strength (799.35 MPa), followed by G (662.34 MPa), and C (485.38 MPa). The fracture origin of SL specimens was in the bulk zirconia, while G and C showed fractures starting at the surface. As-sintered reached the highest fracture toughness and hardness. Glaze and borosilicate glass provided surface compressive stresses. Borosilicate glass application led to phase transformation (t→m). SL and G showed the lowest roughness. TP00 and ΔE00 were similar among groups. SIGNIFICANCE: Borosilicate glass improved strength without harming the optical properties of third-generation zirconia. Toughness and roughness provided by the experimental glass were similar to those from commercial glaze.

Efeito antimicrobiano e propriedades mecânicas da zircônia translúcida revestida por vidros experimentais / Antimicrobial effect and mechanical properties of translucent zirconia coated with experimental glasses

Objetivos: Avaliar as propriedades mecânicas, atividade antimicrobiana e citocompatibilidade da zircônia translúcida 5Y-PSZ revestida por vidros experimentais contendo boro e prata. Métodos: Discos 5Y-PSZ (KATANA UTML™, Kuraray Noritake) foram processados e divididos em quatro grupos: polido, sem nenhum revestimento (Controle), aplicação de glaze comercial (Glaze) e vidros experimentais contendo prata (AgCoat) e boro (BCoat). As amostras foram submetidas aos testes de dureza Vickers, testes de flexão biaxial, análise fractográfica e rugosidade através de perfilometria óptica. O potencial antimicrobiano foi caracterizado usando biofilmes de espécie única de Streptococcus mutans e Candida albicans. Foi realizada a quantificação de unidades viáveis formadoras de colônias (UFC), atividade metabólica (CV), ensaios de matriz polissacarídica extracelular (EPS) e biovolume. Biofilmes foram visualizados por microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV) e microscopia confocal de varredura a laser (CLSM). A citocompatibilidade foi determinada usando os testes WST-1 e LIVE&DEAD usando células-tronco do ligamento periodontal (PDLSCs) por 24 h. Todas as caracterizações biológicas foram realizadas em triplicatas técnicas e biológicas usando amostras independentes. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas por ANOVA de uma via, teste de Tukey, análise de Weibull e análise de correlação de Pearson. Resultados: BCoat, AgCoat e Glaze alcançaram dureza semelhante, que foi menor que o Controle. BCoat teve a maior resistência à flexão e parâmetros de Weibull (m = 11,5, sF 625 MPa, s0 620) seguido por AgCoat (m = 5,3; sF 464 MPa, s0 478 MPa). BCoat diminuiu significativamente a formação de biofilmes, conforme mostrado pela menor UFC (5,94 log-UFC/mm2) e atividade metabólica (0,17 a.u.) em comparação com os outros grupos (AgCoat: 6,44 log-UFC/mm2, 0,89 a.u.; Glaze: 6,81 log UFC/mm2, 1,21 a.u.; Controle: 6,82 logUFC/mm2, 1,25 a.u.). BCoat e AgCoat apresentaram os menores valores de EPS (0,11 a.u.), seguidos por Glaze e Controle (0,13 a.u.; 0,14 a.u., respectivamente). MEV e CLSM revelaram que os biofilmes no BCoat eram finos, esparsos, com menor biovolume, enquanto os outros grupos produziram biofilmes robustos com maior biovolume. Os ensaios de viabilidade celular não mostraram toxicidade para PDLSCs para todos os grupos. Conclusão: 5Y-PSZ revestida por vidro experimental contendo boro surge como uma estratégia potencial para melhorar as propriedades mecânicas e antimicrobianas do material (AU).

Objectives: To evaluate the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of boroncontaining coating on translucent zirconia (5Y-PSZ). Methods: 5Y-PSZ discs (Control) were coated with a glaze (Glaze), silver- (AgCoat), or boron-containing (BCoat) glasses. The coatings' antimicrobial potential was characterized using S. mutans and C. albicans biofilms through viable colony-forming units (CFU), metabolic activity (CV), and the extracellular polysaccharide matrix (EPS). Biofilm architectures were imaged under scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopies (SEM and CLSM). Cytocompatibility was determined at 24 h via WST-1 and LIVE&DEAD assays using periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). The coatings' effects on mechanical properties were characterized by Vickers hardness, biaxial bending tests, and fractography analysis. Statistical analyses were performed via one-way ANOVA, Tukey's tests, Weibull analysis, and Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: BCoat significantly decreased biofilm formation, having the lowest CFU and metabolic activity compared with the other groups. BCoat and AgCoat presented the lowest EPS, followed by Glaze and Control. SEM and CLSM images revealed that the biofilms on BCoat were thin and sparse, with lower biovolume. In contrast, the other groups all yielded similarly robust biofilms with higher biovolume without compromising PDLSC viability. BCoat, AgCoat, and Glaze also presented similar hardness significantly lower than Control. BCoat had the highest flexural strength, characteristic strength and Weibull parameters (sF : 625 MPa; s0: 620 MPa; m = 11.5), followed by AgCoat (sF : 464 MPa; s0: 478 MPa; m = 5.3). Significance: BCoat is a cytocompatible glass with promising antimicrobial properties that can improve the mechanisms and reliability of 5Y-PSZ (AU).

Biofilm formation and cell viability on monolithic zirconia with silver-doped sodalime glass.

The present study evaluated the effect of glass application with and without silver-doped soda-lime glass on roughness, biofilm formation, cell viability and flexural strength of a zirconia. Samples of 3-YTZP (3 mol% yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals) were divided into: polished (P); glaze (G); glass infiltration (INF); 4% silver-doped soda-lime glass (Ag4); glass infiltration + 4% silver-doped soda-lime glass (INF-Ag4); 5% silver-doped soda-lime glass (Ag5); glass infiltration + 5% silver-doped soda-lime glass (INF-Ag5). Samples were submitted to the following analyses: roughness (Ra); free surface energy (FSE); colony-forming units count (log CFU/mL); scanning electron microscopy (SEM); cytotoxicity (MTT assay) and flexural strength. Ag5 had greater roughness and FSE, but less biofilm adherence. In the CFU, silver-doped soda-lime glass groups inhibited the growth of Candida albicans, while the Ag5 inhibited Streptococcus mutans and none of the groups was effective against Streptococcus sanguinis. In the qualitative evaluation, lower number of colonies in the Ag5 grew up, compared to the control groups (P; G and INF) for both C. albicans and S. mutans. Regarding the MTT assay, the Ag4, INF-Ag4 and INF-Ag5 obtained percentage of cell viability greater than 50%. Ag5 showed lower flexural strength when compared to the control groups, while the application of glass infiltration increased the flexural strength by formation of a graded region between zirconia-glass. In conclusion, Ag5 had the greatest antimicrobial effect, Ag4 and INF-Ag4 were the less cytotoxic and the INF was the most resistant to fracture. Therefore, INF-Ag4 conciliates the best performance in terms of antimicrobial and mechanical properties for a 3-YTZP.