Effects of cell-seeding methods of human osteoblast culture on biomechanical properties of porous bioceramic scaffold

Abstract

Many studies have been performed to accelerate osteoinduction and osteoconduction into porous ceramic scaffolds by seeding them with cells. In this study, we compared available cell-seeding methods on a porous β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffold and evaluated the effects of cell-seeding on the mechanical properties of the porous β-TCP scaffold. Three types of porous bioceramic scaffolds were used: dry scaffold, scaffold wetted with media, and scaffold cultivated with normal human osteoblasts (NHOs). Cell-seeding into the porous β-TCP scaffolds was performed by conventional, centrifuge, high-density, and vacuum methods. After confirming cell proliferation with MTT assay and cell staining, a compressive test was performed after 2 and 4 weeks of cell culture. The vacuum method based on the high-density cell culture inserted effectively NHOs into the β-TCP scaffolds. The compressive elastic modulus of wetted β-TCP scaffolds decreased significantly (p < 0.05) about 20∼30% after 2 and 4 weeks of incubation in comparison with that of the dry scaffold. However, the compressive strength of the scaffolds cultivated with NHOs for 3 weeks was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of scaffolds without NHOs. The vacuum with the high-density of cell-seeding seems to be a suitable method for seeding cells into complex porous ceramic scaffolds. Cell proliferation and uniform distribution in the scaffolds can change the initial mechanical properties of porous ceramic scaffolds.