Physically enhanced coating of a titanium plasma-spray surface with human SAOS-2 osteoblasts and extracellular matrix

Several studies suggest that the modification of a titanium surface could play an important role in bone tissue engineering. In this study we have followed a biomimetic strategy where ultrasonically or electromagnetically stimulated human SAOS-2 osteoblasts proliferated and built their extracellular matrix on a titanium plasma-spray surface. In comparison with control conditions, the ultrasonic stimulus (power, 149 mW; frequency, 1.5 MHz) and the electromagnetic stimulus (magnetic field, 2 mT; frequency, 75 Hz) increased the cell proliferation and the surface coating with type-I collagen. The physical stimuli aimed at obtaining a better modification of the rough titanium plasma-spray surface in terms of cell colonization and coating with bone matrix. The superficially modified biomaterial could be used, in clinical applications, as an implant for bone repair.