Analysis In Vivo of Bone Modulation in Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Titanium Implant Surfaces.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether a hydrophilic surface treatment compared with a hydrophobic implant surface can enhance osseointegration by analysis of calcium deposition, bone-to-implant contact (BIC), bone volume (BV), and upregulation of genes involved in bone formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty implants (n = 60) with a hydrophobic (SAE) or hydrophilic (SAE-HD) surface treatment were placed bilaterally in each femur of 3-month-old male mice (n = 30). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were utilized for quantifying the presence of calcium on the implant surface 7 days after implant placement. The specimens were analyzed after 14 and 21 days for BIC and BV by Nano CT scanning followed by histologic evaluation. Additionally, 1, 3, and 7 days postsurgery, femurs were harvested, implants were explanted, and gene expression (Sp7, Bsp, Sost, IL-1α, and IL-10) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was studied. Moreover, implants were characterized for surface roughness area. Data were statistically analyzed with two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Tukey test (P < .05). RESULTS: The amount of calcium on the surface was higher for SAE-HD after 7 days. Nano CT revealed significantly more BV in the SAE-HD than the SAE surface. The histologic assessment showed increased BIC in SAE-HD in comparison to SAE. SAEHD showed significantly increased levels of genes involved in bone formation. CONCLUSION: Both surfaces were able to modulate bone responses toward osteoblast differentiation. SAE-HD presented a better response compared with SAE.

Electrical stimulation enhances early palatal wound healing in mice.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Electrical stimulation (ES) has been used to treat chronic wound and other clinical applications, showing favorable results in wound closure. It was hypothesized that ES can present a positive effect on oral mucosa healing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ES during the palatal mucosa early healing process in Swiss mice. METHODS: Ninety animals were divided into two groups: Control (C; n = 45), which received Sham ES applications, and Test (ES; n = 45), which received ES (100 µA; 9 kHz; 660 mVpp) once a day for 3 days. A full thickness wound was performed with a 1.5 mm diameter biopsy punch in the hard palate. Histologically, the following parameters were evaluated: palatal wound closure and epithelial and connective wound edge distance (EED and CED). Furthermore, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10 TNF-α, and VEGF cytokine levels were evaluated by multiplex assay. The percentage of collagen fibers was assessed using the polarization method and the Smad proteins using the immunofluorescence method. RESULTS: Palatal wound closure presented a significant reduction on day 5 in the ES group (p = 0.01). Additionally, both EED and CED were shorter for all time points in the ES group (p < 0.05), and the inflammatory markers IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and VEGF were reduced (p < 0.05). There were no differences in collagen fibers and phospho-Smad2 between the groups. CONCLUSION: ES had a positive effect on early palatal wound closure outcomes, as well as on inflammatory markers.