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Published on: September 11, 2015
In vitro attachment of osteoblast-like cells to osteoceramic materials
J C Keller1, J G Collins, G G Niederauer
1University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA. john-keller@iowa.edu
Objective:
The objective of this work was to examine osteoblast-like cell attachment and morphology in vitro to osteoceramic materials with three different surface morphologies.
Methods:
Osteoceramic composite disks were fabricated from tricalcium phosphate and magnesium-aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4) in a 50 vol% ratio. The disks were prepared with three different surface morphologies, including as-fired (irregular), etched (rough), or polished through 1 mm diamond paste (smooth). Osteoblast-like cell cultures were plated onto the prepared disks for 2 h, and the number of attached cells was determined. ANOVA and Student Newman-Kuels tests were used to test for significant differences in cell attachment (p < 0.05). SEM was used to visually evaluate the nature of the cellular adaptation on the osteoceramic surfaces.
Results:
Some additional surface roughening resulted from the interaction between the osteoceramic disks and the biological culture media during the attachment assay. A statistically larger number of cells was found to be attached to the etched osteoceramic surfaces compared to the as-fired and polished osteoceramic surfaces or the tissue culture plastic control. Cellular adaptation was extensive on all three osteoceramic surfaces at 2 h.
Significance:
These results are consistent with previous in vivo work and continue to support the hypothesis that osteoceramic materials have potential for implants and bone substitute materials.
