Objectives: The present study investigated the effect of a chemical modification of the SLA surface (SLActive surface) on human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cell (1) adhesion, (2) proliferation, (3) osteogenic differentiation (core binding factor α-1 [Cbfa-1], bone morphogenetic protein-7 [BMP-7] gene expression and alkaline phosphatase [ALP] activity) and (4) osteoclast formation and activity (osteoprotegerin [OPG] and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κ B ligand [RANKL] gene expression). The above activities were based on the hypothesis that the expression of such molecules might be dependent on the characteristics of the implant surface.
Material And Methods: hPDL cells were isolated and characterized for their mesenchymal origin, fibroblastic and osteoblastic phenotype.