Evaluation of cell compatibility of surfaces patterned with hydroxyapatite nanopowders on Ti surfaces

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a widely used biomaterial for coatings on prostheses, which is used to repair, replace and restore the function of traumatized or diseased bone. In the present study, template-assisted electrohydrodynamic atomization (TAEA) was used to pattern Ti surfaces (convex, concave and flat) with different HA nanoparticles, in order to evaluate the cellular responses. A comparison of biocompatibility between surfaces coated with locally prepared (SL) and commercially available HA nanopowders was carried out. The cytotoxicity and cellular responses to these substrates (i.e., cell adhesion, morphology and proliferation) were evaluated using human osteoblast-like cells (HOS) in vitro. The results demonstrate that Ti surfaces coated with HA (SL) and commercial HA supported HOS cell attachment and proliferation without eliciting any deleterious substances. Moreover, retention of cell viability and morphology of osteoblast-like cells were observed once cells were in contact with the surfaces and were comparable to that of the tissue culture control. Interestingly, cells attached to HA (SL) elicited a better response. Proliferation of cells on convex surfaces was relatively higher in comparison to that of the concave and flat surfaces, which could be due to increased surface area of the HA (SL).