Key Engineering Materials Vols. 309-311

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic properties of magnetron sputtered dicalcium pyrophosphate (DCPP) and hydroxylapatite (HA) coatings. Therefore, DCPP and HA coatings were deposited on grit-blasted titanium discs. The substrates were used as-prepared or received an additional heat treatment with changed the amorphous coating structure to a crystalline structure. Subsequently, rat bone marrow stromal cells were cultured for 1-24 days on the various substrates. DNA and alkaline phosphatase activity was determined after 1, 3, 5, 8 and 12 days of incubation. Osteocalcin expression was evaluated after 8, 12, 16 and 24 days of incubation. Scanning electron microscopical analysis of cell morphology and coating characteristics was done after 8 and 16 days of incubation. All assays were done in duplicate and in each assay all specimens were present in fourfold. Results demonstrated that the cells did not proliferate and differentiate on all amorphous coatings. SEM revealed that the amorphous coatings showed significant dissolution. On the crystalline DCPP and HA coatings an increase in DNA and alkaline phosphatase activity was seen starting at day 8 of incubation. Osteocalcin expression on the crystalline coatings started to increase at day 16 of incubation. SEM showed that the growth and differentiation of the cells was associated with extensive collage fiber formation and surface mineralization in the form of globular accretions. Further, statistical testing revealed that proliferation and differentiation of the rat bone marrow stromal cells started significantly earlier on the crystalline HA coatings than on the crystalline DCPP coatings. These results demonstrate that the rat bone marrow stromal cells proliferated and differentiated only on crystalline magnetron sputtered DCPP as well as HA coatings, which warrants the further in vivo analysis of the bone healing supporting properties of these coatings.

Abstract: The initial interactions of plasma-sprayed HA coating surface with osteoblasts was investigated. Two kind of post-treatment methods were been used for HA coating: (1) Heated in air at 650oC for 30 min, (2) Heated in water vapor at 125oC, 0.15Mpa for 6 hours. The third passage rabbit osteoblasts were cultured on the HA coating plates for 24 h. The results showed: The lower dissolution rate and more surface hydroxyl groups (OH-1) group in the HA coating resulted in greater numbers of adhered osteoblasts and higher cell activity, The post-water vapor treated HA coating have better biological behavior in vitro.

Abstract: Titanium alloy has been used as a material for orthopaedic implants, however drawbacks still exist. Considerable efforts have been taken to modify the surface structure of the implant material and improve the biological performance. Previously we have demonstrated that biomaterials surface modification has a significant effect on the regulation of osteogenesis. We have investigated the behaviour of human osteoclasts on sol-gel coated carbonated hydroxyapatite on anodized titanium alloy. Osteoclasts cultured on the modified surface were able to attach and spread, exhibiting the characteristic peripheral brush border. Successful differentiation of the monocytes into osteoclasts and their attachment to the coated surface and the formation of resorption-like imprints indicated that carbonate hydroxyapatite (CHAP) coated titanium alloy play a significant role in regulating the functional activity of osteoclasts.

Abstract: For the potential use of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating for biomedical applications, it would be important to evaluate the biological effects of these coatings. In this study, DLC coatings were deposited on glass coverslips using the plasma immersion process, which produces films with adhesion properties superior to those prepared with conventional techniques. Scanning electron microscopic and atomic force microscopic observations were used to study the morphology of fibroblasts growth on DLC coatings.

Abstract: Five kinds of gypsums, (1) CaSO4•2H2O (caldium sulfate dihydrate; CSD), (2) CaSO4•1/2H2O (calcium sulfate hemihydrate; CSH), (3) CaSO4 (calcium sulfate anhydrite; CSA), (4) CSH200 (CSH heat-treated at 200°C after self-hardening), and (5) CSH600 (CSH heat-treated at 600°C after self-hardening) were used as candidates for coating materials on calcium metaphosphate (CMP) scaffod to control degradation rate of CMP and to extend degradation limit. The disks of CSD, CSH, CSA, CSH 200, and CSH600 were prepared by self-hardening after mixing with water, where CSH200 and CSH600 were heat-treated at 200°C and 600°C, respectively. In order to control fast resorption rate of gypsum, CMP-CSA composites were prepared with different CSA contents such as 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 70 vol% and heat-treated at 900°C for 4 hours. The degradation rates of various gypsums were evaluated in revised simulated body fluid (r-SBF) for 1, 3, 7, and 21 days, respectively. Degradation rate of each specimen was measured in terms of weight loss change with time and degraded surface morphology was examined by SEM. All kinds of gypsums were transformd into CSD after self-hardening with water. Most of gypsums were degraded by 35~60 wt% at 7 days and by 70~99 wt% at 21 days of soaking in SBF. In the group of CMP-CSA composites, the degree of degradation of them was considerably retarded compared to that of five pure gypsums. The surface morphology showed elongated needle-like crystals during the degradation with time.

Abstract: The effect of fibronectin (FN) on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF) attachment and proliferation on Bioglass® (PerioGlas® Synthetic Bone Graft Particulate, US Biomaterials) modified dental ceramics, was investigated in vitro. FN introduced limited alterations in cell attachment on Bioglass®-modified dental ceramics in comparison with the corresponding non-FN-coated specimens but had a profound positive effect on Bioglass®-coated specimens that weakly supported both cell attachment and proliferation. The amount of protein adsorbed on the specimens was not proportional to its biological activity, i.e. cell attachment, spread and proliferation, probably due to surface energy variations and FN conformational changes induced by differences in surface composition and morphology of the different dental ceramics modifications.

Abstract: Bonelike apatite coating on metal implants is an effective method to enhance bioactive properties of the metal surface. In the present study, the effectiveness of cathode deposition (CD) coating methods was investigated. And biomimetic deposition (BD) was also investigated as the parallel. The revised simulated body fluid (R-SBF) was chosen as an electrolyte and simulated body fluid. Both deposition methods could produce bonelike apatite coating on rough surfaces of the titanium. The uniformity of the CD coatings were better than the BD coatings’. And CD method was less sensitive to the condition of the titanium plate surfaces and much faster in the coating deposition. The spectra of FTIR showed that the characteristic peaks of CO3 2- apeared on the surface of ceramics, combined with spectra of XRD and SEM, it was concluded that a sertain thickness of bonelike apatite coating could be formed on the acided treatment (AT) titanium plate surfaces by CD method.

Abstract: There is an ongoing effort to improve the quality and performance of orthopedic implants. Part of this work involves the development of coatings suitable for use in the human body and having properties and bio-performance characteristics better than those of existing materials. The present study focused on developing thermal spray titania coatings engineered to have a bimodal structure consisting of a major fraction of micron scale dimensions within which were dispersed zones of nanostructured material. The coatings were found to exhibit much stronger adhesion to Ti-6Al-4V substrates than conventional hydroxyapatite coatings and to possess excellent crack propagation resistance characteristics. Cell culture studies indicated that human osteoblasts attached and proliferated well on the coating surface. The surface nano-features and nanostructured zones in the coating are believed to play an important role in the improved bonding, mechanical properties and bio-performance.