Comparison of osteoblast‐like cell responses to calcium silicate and tricalcium phosphate ceramics <i>in vitro</i>

Abstract

Abstract Calcium silicate ceramics have been proposed as new bone repair biomaterials, since they have proved to be bioactive, degradable, and biocompatible. β‐tricalcium phosphate ceramic is a well‐known degradable material for bone repair. This study compared the effects of CaSiO 3 (α‐, and β‐CaSiO 3 ) and β‐Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 (β‐TCP) ceramics on the early stages of rat osteoblast‐like cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation. Osteoblast‐like cells were cultured directly on CaSiO 3 (α‐, and β‐CaSiO 3 ) and β‐TCP ceramics. Attachment of a greater number of cells was observed on CaSiO 3 (α‐, and β‐CaSiO 3 ) ceramics compared with β‐TCP ceramics after incubation for 6 h. SEM observations showed an intimate contact between cells and the substrates, significant cells adhesion, and that the cells spread and grew on the surfaces of all the materials. In addition, the proliferation rate and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of the cells on the CaSiO 3 (α‐, and β‐CaSiO 3 ) ceramics were improved when compared with the β‐TCP ceramics. In the presence of CaSiO 3 , elevated levels of calcium and silicon in the culture medium were observed throughout the 7‐day culture period. In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed that CaSiO 3 ceramics showed greater ability to support cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation than β‐TCP ceramic. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2007