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Repairing large bone fractures with low frequency electromagnetic fields
Author(s) -
Lin HsinYi,
Lu KoHsien
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.20964
Subject(s) - chitosan , alkaline phosphatase , chemistry , osteoblast , extracellular matrix , calcium , biomedical engineering , bone healing , biophysics , calcification , matrix (chemical analysis) , in vitro , surgery , biochemistry , pathology , medicine , biology , organic chemistry , chromatography , enzyme
The healing effects of low frequency pulse electromagnetic field (EMF) on bone fractures larger than 1 cm are unsatisfactory. Three‐ dimensional chitosan scaffolds are designed to fill in larger bone fractures and have been shown to be osteogenic. We hypothesized that EMF could accelerate the repair process of larger bone fractures with the use of chitosan scaffolds. Chitosan (96% deacetylation) films and lyophilized scaffolds, with and without osteoblast cells, were exposed to EMF (18–30 Gauss, 75 Hz) for 2 h a day for 3 weeks. Each week, the growth and phenotype expressions of osteoblasts and properties of chitosan were examined. The hydrophilicity, Young's modulus, and biodegradability of chitosan were not altered by EMF exposure. EMF osteoblasts showed 37% higher cell proliferation, 15% lower alkaline phosphatase activity, and 74% more calcium deposition than the controls. Based on SEM photomicrographs, EMF‐ treated cells appeared to produce more collagen fibrils, matrix vesicles, and calcium in the extracellular matrix than the controls. In conclusion, EMF was capable of enhancing the proliferation and mineralization of osteoblasts cultured on chitosan scaffolds. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:265–270, 2010