Title: Assessment of the osteoblastic cell response to a zinc glass reinforced hydroxyapatite composite (Zn-GRHA)

Authors: N. Sooraj Hussain, P.S. Gomes, M.H. Fernandes, M.A. Lopes, J.D. Santos

Addresses: INESC Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; Departamento de Fisica, Faculdade de Ciencias, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal. ' Faculdade de Medicina Dentaria, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Manuel Pereira da Silva, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal. ' Faculdade de Medicina Dentaria, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Manuel Pereira da Silva, 4200-393 Porto, Portugal. ' Departamento de Engenharia Metalurgica e Materiais, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; Departamento de Engenharia Mecanica, CEMUC-Centro de Engenharia Mecanica da Universidade de Coimbra, Pinhal de Marrocos 3030 Coimbra, Portugal. ' Departamento de Engenharia Metalurgica e Materiais, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; Departamento de Engenharia Mecanica, CEMUC-Centro de Engenharia Mecanica da Universidade de Coimbra, Pinhal de Marrocos 3030 Coimbra, Portugal

Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HA), Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) bioceramics have been used as graft materials. However, optimal biological performance has not been established yet and zinc, being a biosafe, biocompatible element, could favour for specific osteoblastic cell response. Therefore, this paper investigates the preliminary results and potential impact of zinc glass reinforced hydroxyapatite (Zn-GRHA) on a human osteoblastic cell system. The biological behaviour of Zn-GRHA samples was assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, while material characterisation was performed by SEM-EDX and XRD analysis. Established cultures reported an increased proliferation and a confluent cell layer in some areas of the material surface at day two. Cells were spread all over the material surface and established multiple cell-to-cell interactions relying on prominent cytoplasmic processes. At day six, confluent cell layers were verified on the Zn-GRHA material|s surface, reporting an improved biological response, compared to control (hydroxyapatite).

Keywords: zinc glass-reinforced hydroxyapatite; Zn-GRHA composites; cell proliferation; osteoblastic cell response; bioceramics; biomaterials; graft materials.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNBM.2009.027702

International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials, 2009 Vol.2 No.1/2/3/4/5, pp.100 - 109

Published online: 08 Aug 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article