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Biomimetic PMMA‐based bone substitutes: A comparative in vitro evaluation of the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field exposure
Author(s) -
Torricelli Paola,
Fini M.,
Giavaresi G.,
Botter R.,
Beruto D.,
Giardino R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.10372
Subject(s) - materials science , biomaterial , biomedical engineering , in vivo , in vitro , osteoblast , nonunion , biocompatible material , stimulation , mtt assay , biophysics , medicine , surgery , nanotechnology , biology , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology
Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) are known to be effective in the stimulation of cultured osteoblasts and in vivo healing of delayed and nonunion fractures. In the present in vitro study the effects of PEMFs on osteoblastic cell cultures (MG63 human osteoblast‐like cells) grown in the presence of poly‐methylmethacrylate (PMMA) and of a biomimetic bone substitute made of a PMMA matrix added with alfa‐tricalcium phosphate (PMMA+α‐TCP) were evaluated, to assess the biological response at the cell‐biomaterial interaction. Cultures were stimulated with PEMFs (75 Hz, 2.3 mT, 1.3‐ms pulse duration) 12 h/day for 3 days and evaluations (MTT, ALP, OC, PICP, TGFβ‐1, IL‐6) were performed at 3 and 6 days. PMMA had a negative effect on osteoblasts, whereas PMMA+α‐TCP enhanced production of ALP, PICP, OC and TGFβ‐1, and reduced IL‐6 levels. Cells responded positively to PEMF stimulation even when cultured with a poorly biocompatible material, such as PMMA. This effect was more evident in the presence of PMMA+α‐TCP (further improvement in proliferation and synthetic activity) both at 3 and at 6 days. The properties of PMMA+α‐TCP look promising, and the present results support the use of PEMFs to improve tissue response to biomaterials implanted as bone substitutes. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 64A: 182–188, 2003