Search

The aims of this study were to characterize the microstructure of a commercially pure titanium (cpTi) surface etched with HCl/H2SO4 (AE-cpTi) and to investigate its in vitro cytocompatibility compared to turned cpTi (T-cpTi). T-cpTi showed a grooved surface and AE-cpTi revealed a surface characterized by the presence of micropits. Surface parameters indicated that the AE-cpTi surface is more isotropic and present a greater area compared to T-cpTi. The oxide film thickness was similar between both surfaces; however, AE-cpTi presented more Ti and O and less C. Osteoblastic cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and bone-like nodule formation were greater on T-cpTi than on AE-cpTi. These results show that acid etching treatment produced a surface with different topographical and chemical features compared to the turned one, and such surface modification affected negatively the in vitro cytocompatibility of cpTi as demonstrated by decreasing culture growth and expression of osteoblastic phenotype.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) by using gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs) diode laser on human osteoblastic cells grown on titanium (Ti). Osteoblastic cells were obtained by enzymatic digestion of human alveolar bone and cultured on Ti discs for up to 17 days. Cells were exposed to LLLT at 3 J/cm2 (wavelength of 780 nm) at days 3 and 7 and non-irradiated cultures were used as control. LLLT treatment did not influence culture growth, ALP activity, and mineralized matrix formation. Analysis of cultures by epifluorescence microscopy revealed an area without cells in LLLT treated cultures, which was repopulated latter with proliferative and less differentiated cells. Gene expression of ALP, OC, BSP, and BMP-7 was higher in LLLT treated cultures, while Runx2, OPN, and OPG were lower. These results indicate that LLLT modulates cell responses in a complex way stimulating osteoblastic differentiation, which suggests possible benefits on implant osseointegration despite a transient deleterious effect immediately after laser irradiation.

This study evaluated bone response to a Ca- and P- enriched titanium (Ti) surface treated by a multiphase anodic spark deposition coating (BSP-AK). Two mongrel dogs received bilateral implantation of 3 Ti cylinders (4.1 x 12 mm) in the humerus, being either BSP-AK treated or untreated (machined - control). At 8 weeks postimplantation, bone fragments containing the implants were harvested and processed for histologic and histomorphometric analyses. Bone formation was observed in cortical area and towards the medullary canal associated to approximately 1/3 of implant extension. In most cases, in the medullary area, collagen fiber bundles were detected adjacent and oriented parallel to Ti surfaces. Such connective tissue formation exhibited focal areas of mineralized matrix lined by active osteoblasts. The mean percentages of bone-to-implant contact were 2.3 (0.0-7.2 range) for BSP-AK and 0.4 (0.0-1.3 range) for control. Although the Mann-Whitney test did not detect statistically significant differences between groups, these results indicate a trend of BSP-AK treated surfaces to support contact osteogenesis in an experimental model that produces low bone-to-implant contact values.

Dexamethasone (Dex) has been shown to induce osteoblast differentiation in several cell culture systems. This study investigated the effect of continuous and discontinuous treatment with Dex on osteoblast differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC). Primary culture and first passage were cultured in media with or without Dex 10(-7) M. During the culture period, cells were incubated at 37 degrees C in humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 and 95% air. At 7, 14, and 21 days, cell proliferation, cell viability, total protein content, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and bone-like formation were evaluated. Data were compared by two-way analysis of variance. Dex did not affect cell viability and total protein content, but reduced cell number. ALP activity and bone-like formation increased when only first passage or both primary culture and first passage were treated with Dex, in comparison to the groups that did not have contact with Dex after first passage. The results of this study indicate that, for human BMSC, continuous presence of Dex did not appear to be required for development of the osteoblast phenotype, but Dex must be present after first passage to allow osteoblast differentiation expressed by reduced cell proliferation and increased ALP activity and bone-like formation.

Bone marrow cells have been used for testing biocompatibility of bone substitute materials that would be applied in maxillofacial and orthopedic surgeries. However, it remains unclear whether cells in serial subcultures retain the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts. The purpose of this study was to compare the development of osteoblast phenotype of serially passaged cells from human bone marrow. Cells from first to third passage were cultured (2 x 10(4) cells/well) in supplemented culture medium. Cells were incubated at 37 degrees C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 and 95% air. Cell attachment was assessed at 4 and 24 h. At 7, 14 and 21 days, cell proliferation, cell viability, total protein content and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were evaluated. Bone-like formation was evaluated at 14 and 21 days. Data were compared by two-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. Cell attachment, cell viability and total protein content were not affected by serial subcultures. However, serial subcultures did interfered negatively with osteoblast differentiation as shown by osteoblast parameters observed in second and third subcultures, such as continuous cell proliferation, lower ALP activity and bone-like formation in comparison to first subculture. Therefore, it is important to evaluate cell ability to growth and differentiate before selecting the cell population for studies that investigate the biocompatibility of materials to replace bone tissue.

There is general agreement that rough surfaces improve both biologic and biomechanical responses to titanium (Ti) implants. The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of Ti surface roughness on the response of human bone marrow cell culture evaluating: cell attachment, cell proliferation, total protein content, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and bone-like nodule formation. Cells were cultured on commercially pure titanium (cpTi) discs with fourdifferent average roughnesses (Ra). For attachment evaluation, cells were cultured for 4 h. After 21 days, cell proliferation, total protein content, and ALP activity were evaluated. For bone-like nodule formation, cells were cultured for 28 days. Data were compared by ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. Cell attachment was not affected by surface roughness. For cells cultured on Ti with Ra ranging from 0.80 microm to 1.90 microm, proliferation was reduced while total protein content, and ALP activity were increased. There was a non-statistically significant increase of bone-like nodule formation on a surface with Ra near 0.80 microm. These results suggest that for Ti an Ra ranging from 0.80 microm to 1.90 microm would optimize both intermediary and final cellular responses but not affect the initial response, and a smoother surface would not favor any evaluated response.