[Cell cultures of human osteoclasts for testing biomaterials]

A method for isolating and culturing osteoclast-like cells from cancellous bone material collected from external iliac crest bone of patients is described. Aseptic techniques were used for comminution of the bone material, treatment with collagenase and separation of the bone cells from the bulk bone through a nylon filter. The bone cells were cultured on various surfaces for ten days. Cell motility, mobility and fusion was be observed along with tartrate-resistant acidic phosphatase activity in a majority of the cells soon after they had been cultured. These large cells attached to human cortical bone fragments, where they produced resorption lacunae in vitro. These morphologic and functional characteristics indicate that the cells we had isolated were, in fact, human osteoclasts. SEM studies of these cells on various biomaterials (titanium, hydroxyl apatite, tricalcium phosphate) revealed different morphologic characteristics varying with the substrate used and allowing conclusions as to substrate acceptance. Large areas of cell contact and cell proliferation suggest a favorable response to the materials applied.