title: Plasma of argon accelerates murine fibroblast adhesion in early stages of titanium disk colonization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to analyze how a cleaning treatment using plasma of argon would affect fibroblast growth on titanium disks at different time points to determine whether this treatment could enhance soft tissue healing around titanium dental implant abutments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty sterile disks made of machined grade 5 titanium were divided into two groups; 30 disks were left untreated (control) and 30 were cleaned using plasma of argon (test). To simulate clinical conditions during soft tissue healing around titanium abutments, both groups were immersed in a culture of murine fibroblasts (L929) for 2, 8, or 48 hours. After preparation, they were stained using 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) to label the cellular nuclei and fluorescent phalloidin to label the cellular bodies. The nuclei were counted, and cellular bodies were analyzed with fluorescent microscopy and imaging analysis software. Analysis was performed at the three different time points.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fibroblast adhesion for the test group was statistically significantly greater versus the control group at 2 and 8 hours but not at 48 hours. At 2 and 8 hours, the cellular bodies in the test group appeared flatter and more spread out, revealing more advanced cellular adhesion, compared to the cells observed in the control group. At 48 hours, the test and control specimens were nearly indistinguishable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The removal of organic and inorganic contaminants from the surfaces of titanium disks using plasma of argon accelerated fibroblast adhesion in the early stages of colonization (2 to 8 hours). This effect disappeared after 48 hours as a result of saturation. Clinically, abutment cleaning using plasma of argon might positively affect soft tissue healing in early stages.
authors.affiliation: University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. luigicanullo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Canullo
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cassinelli
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Götz
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tarnow
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001128:Argon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003666:Decontamination; D000044:Dental Abutments; D015921:Dental Implants; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013499:Surface Properties / Q000187:drug effects; D014025:Titanium; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D015921:Dental Implants; D058626:Plasma Gases; D001128:Argon; D014025:Titanium