In vitro cytotoxicity assessment of carbon fabric coated with calcium phosphate

The success or failure of medical implants often depends on the cell-surface behavior after implantation of the device. This study investigated the use of woven carbon fabric, which had been sonoelectrochemically coated with calcium phosphate, to enhance bone cell attachment and proliferation in vitro. Human osteoblast-like cells, MG63, were used to study the interactions between cells and the material and assess the cytotoxicity of the substrates. The cytotoxicity of the materials was assessed using an MTS ((3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt)) assay to determine the viability of the osteoblast-like MG63 cells in direct contact with the carbon fabric or calcium phosphate coated carbon fabrics, and to assess the cytotoxicity of extracts from these materials. The morphology of the surface adherent cells was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that neither carbon fabrics nor calcium phosphate coated materials were cytotoxic. Furthermore, cell attachment and proliferation were enhanced by coating carbon fabrics with calcium phosphate. SEM showed that the cells had a normal morphology and were well spread similar to those seen in the tissue culture plate control. These flexible calcium phosphate coated fabrics could, therefore, have uses in the reconstruction of bone in orthopaedic and dental surgery.