Exploring the impact of calcium phosphate biomaterials on cellular metabolism

Calcium phosphate (CaP) biomaterials have been widely used in hard tissue engineering, but their impact on cell metabolism is unclear. We synthesized and characterized hydroxyapatite, β-tricalcium phosphate, and biphasic calcium phosphate composites to investigate material effects on NIH/3T3 cell metabolism. The intracellular metabolites were analyzed employing LC-MS metabolomics, and cell metabolic status was assessed comparatively. Our results revealed that CaPs adsorb metabolites, particularly amino acids. Furthermore, CaP biomaterials significantly influence amino acid and energy metabolism pathways. Specifically, we observed glycolysis and TCA cycle activity stimulation, resulting in higher energy consumption in cells adhered to CaP surfaces. Our findings suggest that CaPs composed of different ratios of hydroxyapatite (HAp) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) have a similar impact on cell metabolism alterations. Moreover, we observed that the metabolism alterations gradually decreased over time. Our study enhances understanding of cell-CaP interplay, paving the way for metabolic regulation biomaterials and improving efficacy in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.