Osteoblast-like cell adherance and migration through 3-dimensional porous polymer matrices

Osteoblast cells collected from rat calvaria were plated onto a biodegradable 3-dimensional porous composite of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and hydroxyapatite to quantitatively assess the matrix's ability to support living cell adhesion throughout an initial 24 hour period. Numbers of cells adhering to the polymer exceeded the plating number of cells, demonstrating that during the 24 hour period, proliferation of cells began. Using immunofluorescent staining for anti-osteocalcin, an exclusive marker for bone cells, osteoblasts were seen to adhere to both the exterior surface of the polymer and to have migrated to the interior surface of the matrix. It is proposed that this biodegradable cell/polymer composite may be useful in bone grafting applications. These studies demonstrated early cellular attachment, proliferation and ingrowth of osteoblast cells can occur within the matrix, with preservation of bone cell phenotypes.