Optimal submicron roughness for balancing degradation behavior, immune modulation, and microbial adhesion on zinc-based barrier membranes

Jiahao Chen; An Li; Jingtao Dai; Qingyun Fu; Zhentao Yu; Shulan Xu; Wentai Zhang; Ping Li

doi:10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.214146

Optimal submicron roughness for balancing degradation behavior, immune modulation, and microbial adhesion on zinc-based barrier membranes

Biomater Adv. 2024 Dec 10:169:214146. doi: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.214146. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jiahao Chen¹, An Li², Jingtao Dai³, Qingyun Fu¹, Zhentao Yu⁴, Shulan Xu⁵, Wentai Zhang⁶, Ping Li⁷

Affiliations

¹ Center of Oral Implantology, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China.
² Department of Periodontology, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China.
³ Department of Orthodontics, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, South Jiangnan Road No. 366, Guangzhou 510280, China.
⁴ Institute of Advanced Wear & Corrosion Resistant and Functional Materials, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
⁵ Center of Oral Implantology, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Dongguan Key Laboratory of Smart Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, The Tenth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523000, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Department of Prosthodontics, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Basic and Applied Research of Oral Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510180, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 39799898
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.214146

Abstract

Metallic zinc (Zn) has been demonstrated to be a promising alternative to barrier membrane materials for guided bone regeneration. Surface roughness significantly affects the properties of degradable Zn-based metals, especially within the Janus micro-environments of tissue regeneration. However, the effects of optimal surface roughness on Zn remain unknown. In this study, pure Zn surfaces were fabricated with three roughness scales: nano (Sa < 0.1 μm), submicron (Sa: 0.5-1.0 μm), and micron (Sa > 1.0 μm). Submicron-scale pure Zn exhibited a moderate degradation rate in simulated body fluids, and no deep corrosion pits appeared on the surface. By contrast, the degradation rate of nano-surface pure Zn decreased significantly, while localized corrosion tended to appear on micron surfaces. In addition, the degradation rate of Zn with different roughness was overall accelerated in artificial saliva, accompanied by varying degradation morphologies. Co-culturing with submicron samples inhibited macrophage polarization to the M1 phenotype. Nano-scale surfaces promoted macrophage polarization towards the M1 phenotype and exhibited significantly reduced antibacterial rates compared to rougher surfaces. These findings demonstrate that submicron-scale pure Zn could be an optimal choice for barrier membrane surfaces.

Keywords: Antibacterial properties; Biocompatibility; Biodegradable metals; Degradation behavior; Immune polarization; Surface roughness.