MC3T3-E1 proliferation and differentiation on biphasic mixtures of Mg substituted ß-tricalcium phosphate and amorphous calcium phosphate.

A low temperature aqueous approach was used to synthesize nanocrystalline, high surface area Mg(2+) substituted ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCMP) to assess its potential use as a synthetic bone graft substitute. X-ray diffraction indicated that ß-TCMP was the predominant crystalline phase formed. However, thermal analysis revealed the presence of a secondary amorphous phase which increased with increasing Mg(2+) concentration. Further analysis by Rietveld refinement indicated that the level of ionic substitution of Ca(2+) by Mg(2+) was significantly lower than the amount of Mg(2+) measured using elemental analysis, confirming the formation of a Mg(2+) rich secondary amorphous phase. MC3T3-E1 proliferation on substrates prepared using ß-TCMP was assessed using the MTT assay. In comparison to commercially available ß-TCP, increased proliferation was observed on samples prepared with 50% Mg, despite elevated Mg(2+) and PO4(3-) concentrations in culture media. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and qRT-PCR were used to study the effect of varying Mg(2+) substitution on osteogenic differentiation. Cells cultured on ß-TCMP substrates prepared with increased Mg(2+) concentrations expressed significantly increased levels of ALP activity and osteogenic genes such as, osteocalcin, collagen-1, and Runx2, in comparison to those cultured on commercially available ß-TCP.

A study of strontium doped calcium phosphate coatings on AZ31.

Calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings have been studied to tailor the uncontrolled non-uniform corrosion of Mg based alloys while simultaneously enhancing bioactivity. The use of immersion techniques to deposit CaP coatings is attractive due to the ability of the approach to coat complex structures. In the current study, AZ31 substrates were subjected to various pretreatment conditions prior to depositing Sr(2+) doped and undoped CaP coatings. It was hypothesized that the bioactivity and corrosion protection of CaP coatings could be improved by doping with Sr(2+). Heat treatment to elevated temperatures resulted in the diffusion of alloying elements, Mg and Zn, into the pretreated layer. Sr(2+) doped and undoped CaP coatings formed on the pretreated substrates consisted of biphasic mixtures of ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA). Electrochemical corrosion experiments indicated that the extent of Sr(2+) doping and pretreatment both influenced the corrosion protection. Cytotoxicity was evaluated with MC3T3-E1 mouse preosteoblasts and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). For both cell types, proliferation decreased upon increasing the Sr(2+) concentration. However, both osteogenic gene and protein expression significantly increased upon increasing Sr(2+) concentration. These results suggest that Sr(2+) doped coatings are capable of promoting osteogenic differentiation on degradable Mg alloys, while also enhancing corrosion protection, in comparison to undoped CaP coatings.