Effects of atomic ordering of Zirconium oxide nanomodification on stem cell differentiation

•amorphous ZrO2 (aZrO2) compared to nano-crystalline (cZrO2) films.•A significant increase in DNA content was observed in the aZrO2 compared with the uncoated Ti and the cZrO2.•An increased alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity was seen in cells grown on the aZrO2.•aZrO2 showed higher values of osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin and, bone morphogenetic protein 2.•aZrO2 films yielded higher mRNA levels of both RUNX-2 and OSX than the cZrO2 or the Ti surface.