Key Engineering Materials Vols. 396-398

Abstract: In recent years, the processing of porous ceramic materials for implant applications has motivated the development and optimization of new technologies. To this purpose, a globular protein based (i.e. ovalbumin) consolidation approach has been proposed. In the present study, a porous hydroxyapatite:b-tricalcium phosphate - biphasic ceramics (BCP), was processed by consolidation using the protein-action technique. The processed ceramic materials exhibited appropriate pore configuration in terms of size, morphology and distribution. The in vitro reactivity and dissolution behavior of the ceramics was evaluated in SBF and biocompatibility in an osteoblasts culture, respectively. Overall, the materials tested showed biocompatibility and suitable properties for osteoconduction. A rough surface pattern displayed by the ceramics seemed to have improved both; cell adhesion and proliferation processes. In conclusion, this study revealed that the porous matrices obtained, promoted suitable development of cell metabolism without cellular death.

Abstract: In recent years, the processing of porous ceramic materials for implant applications has motivated the development and optimization of new technologies. To this purpose, a globular protein based (i.e. ovalbumin) consolidation approach has been proposed. In the present study, a porous hydroxyapatite:b-tricalcium phosphate - biphasic ceramics (BCP), was processed by consolidation using the protein-action technique. The processed ceramic materials exhibited appropriate pore configuration in terms of size, morphology and distribution. The in vitro reactivity and dissolution behavior of the ceramics was evaluated in SBF and biocompatibility in an osteoblasts culture, respectively. Overall, the materials tested showed biocompatibility and suitable properties for osteoconduction. A rough surface pattern displayed by the ceramics seemed to have improved both; cell adhesion and proliferation processes. In conclusion, this study revealed that the porous matrices obtained, promoted suitable development of cell metabolism without cellular death.

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to correlate surface features of degraded temporary teeth from area with high pollution with the cell adhesion and proliferation. Viability of gingival fibroblast (HGF-1, CRL-2014, American Type Culture Collection) was evaluated with a MTT (3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazolium bromide ) test and the values are discussed for the most degraded temporary teeth in correlation with the change in surface morphology and hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, taking into account that cell adhesion is related to a more hydrophilic character.

Abstract: A collagen material was chemically grafted on hydroxyapatite (HA) to enhance bone cell attachment because the collagen is a major constituent of connective tissues and has been regarded as one of the most excellent coating materials for bone bonding. First, HA disks were prepared with 12mm diameter and 1mm thickness. And then collagen (type I) was immobilbized on the HA surface using a 3-APTES coupling agent on HA disk surfaces. MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were seeded on the collagen-grafted and non-grated HA disks and cultured for 4 hrs to evaluate the cell adhesion on the HA discs. The Attached cell morphology on discs was observed with a fluorescent optical microscopy (FOM) and a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The osteoblasts on the collagen-grafted sample were more spread than those on the non-grafted sample. It is believed that collagen-grafted HA surface provides suitable sites for cell attaching due to the high biocompatibility of collagen.

Abstract: The adsorption of multiple proteins derived from fetal bovine serum (FBS) in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and alpha minimum essential (aMEM) was in situ analyzed with a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation technique on gold, titanium and HAp sensors. The adsorption behaviors of FBS proteins were varied depending on the sensors. The DD/Df value of the HAp sensor were clearly different in PBS and aMEM, and others were not changed. The viscoelastic properties of the protein films adsorbed on the HAp sensor in PBS were flexible in comparison with those on the gold and titanium sensors. The D-f plots incidated that the proteins adsorbed on HAp in PBS would lead to competitive adsorption and conformational change and those in aMEM could form a monolayer. The adsorption behavior on the HAp in carbonate buffer saline was found to be similar to that in aMEM. These differential adsorption behaviors on the HAp surface were attributed to the pre-adsorptive ion, such PO43- or CO32- in the solvent.

Abstract: In order to study bicompability properties of fully dense ZrO2 ceramics containing 2-3 mol% Y2O3 stabilizer, and ZrO2-TiN composites containing 1-1.75 mol Y2O3 and 1 mol% Nd2O3 stabilizers, and electrical conductive TiN particles (40-60 vol%), cell viability was evaluated based on the reduction of tetrazolium salt to formazan crystals by living cells, the alkaline phosphatase production was investigated, and nitrite quantification was done for indirect evaluation of osteoblast NO production. The samples were defined biocompatible since there is not any significant change observed in the physiological functions of the cells when incubated together.

Abstract: The cementum, a mineralized tissue lining the tooth root surface, is required for development of a functional periodontal ligament. The presence of healthy cementum is considered to be an important criterion for predictable restoration of periodontal tissues lost as a consequence of disease. Despite the importance of cementum to general oral health, very little is known about the cells responsible for the formation of cementum, cementoblasts. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the ionic products from the dissolution of bioactive glass with 60% of silica ( BG60S ) on the behavior of cementoblasts, osteoblasts and fibroblasts. The cell viability was tested by MTT assay based on mitochondria activity of the cell and Trypan Blue assay based on membrane cell viability. The membrane cell viability measured by Trypan Blue assay showed the beneficial effect on all the cell types tested. It was observed a higher proliferation in the presence of ionic products from dissolution of BG60S when compared to control. In the MTT assay we also observed increased cell viability on all the cell types, but proliferation of cementoblasts was higher (107%) than observed for the other cells (104%) compared to control. The results from this study suggest that Cementoblasts, osteoblasts and fibroblasts are important cells on events that control the development of mineralizing and not mineralizing tissues and the investigation of the comparative behavior of these cells can be a useful experimental model. The observed effect of the bioactive glass particles on cementoblasts shows that this material is an interesting alternative to be used in composite membranes for cementum tissue engineering.

Abstract: The study aimed the evaluation of the effect of osseous repair in the synthetic hydroxyapatite cylinder (HA) implanted in rabbit’s tibia. Fifteen adult animals, weighing around 2.5 and 3.0 Kg, sourced by the Fluminense Federal University Animal Lab were anesthetized with spinal anesthesia, and two perforations were created in right tibia and filled with cylinders (2 x 6 mm) of HA. The animals were killed after 28 days for evaluating the HA cylinder through attenuated total reflection infrared microscopy (ATR-FTIR). The two fragments of tibia with the cylinder were collected and fixed in alcohol 70° prior to dehydration in successive alcohol solutions and then impregnated and embedded in methyl-methacrylate. Not stained neither pasted to lamina, sections of 200 µm thickness were analyzed in a Shimadzu IRPrestige-21 Automatic Infrared Microscope (AIM-8800) with ATR Objective Mirror (ATR-8800M). Prior to implantation, HA cylinder was characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Attenuated Total Reflection- Infra Red microscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). After the implantation, the spectrum of the ATR-FTIR at the interface to neoformed bone was acquired. The hydroxyapatite synthesized was crystalline and stoichiometric with Ca/P ratio of 1.66, becoming carbonated after 28 days of implantation. We conclude that attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) is a useful tool for biomaterial evaluation and able to detect the modification of the chemical HA cylinder pattern occurred probably by ions migration in the biological environment.

Abstract: In this study, the insulin adsorption ability by synthetic hydroxyapatite was investigated. Hydroxyapatite before thermal treatment and heated at 900°C and 1100°C were incubated in a solution containing 32 mg insulin/gHA. Adsorption and desorption experiments were carried out at 37°C under constant and slowly stirring. From FTIR results it was observed that insulin was tightly attached to HA surface after 96 hours adsorption experiment. Thermal pre-treatment on HA samples had no effect on insulin adsorption. However, protein desorption was more pronounced on samples not submitted to thermal treatment.

Abstract: Today, in the period of one year, in Brazil and throughout world, hundreds of thousands of surgical implants, both permanent and temporary, are carried out with a high cost for the patients, especially those of SUS – Sistema Único de Saúde. In addition, the SUS costs for treatment of infections that appear as a result of introduction of an implant into the human body create expenses about three times greater than the use of implants coated with biomaterials. Hydroxyapatite (HA) constitutes the base of one important group of biomaterials with excellent implant characteristics. Hydroxyapatite has been extensively studied, but the adherence relationship at the coating/substrate interface is not yet well understood. The coatings in this study were produced using substrates of AISI 316L stainless steel shaped as external fixation pins, with HA applied by a high energy plasma spray gun (HEP). The coating thicknesses were between 15µm and 98µm. The mechanical evaluation of coating adhesion was conducted by scratch testing with progressive loads. Results show an increase of failure load with an increase in thickness. The clinical evaluation was carried out in the Trauma and Orthopedics Sector of the Baleia Hospital, and shows a significant decrease in inflammatory response in the human body.