Comparison of human Osteoblast Proliferation in Alginate and Hydroxyapatite-Tricalcium Phosphate Scafolds

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Postgraduate Student, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: After bone fractures from traffic trauma, many patients suffer from non-healing bone defects and its cosmetic and psychological complications. So, it is important to identify modern and effective methods to improve healing of bone defects. One of these, is using bone cells from the patient, culturing these cells on appropriate scaffold, and finally transferring them to injured area. The main objective of this study was to compare the rate of osteoblast proliferation in alginate beads, and hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate (HA-TC) scaffold. Methods: Bone tissue specimens were obtained from 4 patients undergoing craniotomy surgery operations in Alzahra teaching hospital, Isfahan. Bone specimens were cut in to small pieces and put in Petri dishes having culture medium and transferred to the incubator. The mean interval of osteoblast outgrowth from bone pieces was observed to be 10-12 days, later on. The cell cultures reached confluence, averagely after 2 weeks time. First passage cells were detached from Petri dishes using Trypsin_EDTA and were divided in two portions. One portion was used for hydroxyapatite-tricalcium pohosphate scaffold, and the other was added to alginate gel. After a 2-weeks period, the data were collected and analyzed. Results: The osteoblasts in hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate scaffold and alginate gel had round morphology. Van kossa staining demonstrated mineralized matrix in both groups. The number of harvested cells in 2 weeks after culture was significantly higher in Alginate group (P < 0.001). In addition, MTT assay showed significant difference in the mean of viability rates between both groups in day 14 (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that Alginate gel support better proliferation and viability of osteoblasts in comparison with the hydroxyapatite-tricalcium pohosphate scaffold. The probable cause of these differences can be searched in Alginate bioproperties. Porosity of Alginate gel provides conditions in which cellular and methabolic activities could be accelerated. Key word: Alginate, Bone healing, Hydroxyapatite-Calcium phosphate, Osteoblst.