Effects of six particulate metals on osteoblast-like MG-63 and HOS cells in vitro

The effects of six particulate metals (Al, Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta and Cr) on cell viability and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were studied in vitro using two types of osteoblast-like cells, MG-63 and HOS cells. The cell viability in the presence of Al, Ti and Zr was depressed at lower concentrations than in the presence of Nb, Ta and Cr. The average sizes of the Al, Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta and Cr particulates were 6.48 microm, 16.99 microm, 5.07 microm, 14.18 microm, 8.32 microm and 23.27 microm respectively. The interaction of HOS cells with the particulates was more sensitive than that of MG-63 cells. ALP activity increased at higher concentrations only with the Al particulates; other experimental conditions did not exert an influence on ALP activity. These findings suggest that the cell viability of osteoblast-like cells might be influenced by particulate size and metal type, but ALP activity was not influenced by these factors.