Sulfonate groups grafted on Ti6Al4V favor MC3T3-E1 cell performance in serum free medium conditions

Ten years ago, we synthesized “bioactive model polymers” bearing sulfonate groups and proposed a mechanism of their modulation effect at different steps of the cell response. Then, we set up the grafting of polymers bearing sulfonate on Ti6Al4V surfaces by a grafting “from” technique making sure of the creation of covalent bonds between the grafted polymer and the Ti6Al4V surface. We have checked and confirmed the positive effect of grafted sulfonate groups on the osteoblastic cell response in vivo and in vitro but we did not elucidate the mechanism. The aim of this basic work consists first in investigating the role of sulfonate groups in the presence and in the absence of proteins at early stages of the osteointegration process on poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) poly(NaSS) grafted and ungrafted Ti6Al4V surfaces, in vitro. To understand the role of poly(NaSS) grafted chains on osteoblast-like cell response and to confirm/elucidate the importance of fetal bovine serum (FBS) proteins in the culture medium, MC3T3-E1 cells were seeded onto poly(NaSS) grafted and non-grafted Ti6Al4V surfaces. Cultures were carried out in a complete (10% FBS) and in a non-complete medium (without FBS). Cell viability assay, cell attachment number and cell adhesion strength were followed up to 3 days of culture. The presence of proteins enhanced cell growth and development whatever the surface and the presence of sulfonate groups enhanced the cell attachment even in the absence of proteins, which suggests and confirms that the sulfonate groups can modify the activity of cells such as the secretion of binding proteins. Statistical differences were found in the attachment strength tests on poly(NaSS) grafted and ungrafted surfaces and showed that the sulfonate groups play an important role in the cell resistance to shear stress.