In vitro behaviour of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells cultured on fluorohydroxyapatite-coated substrata with different roughness

Among ceramic materials, recent interest has been risen on fluorinated hydroxyapatites, which undergo slow in vivo degradation and offer a more stable interface for osseointegration and bone fixation. Apart from the information available on the chemistry, little is known of their biological properties and, more specifically, of their interaction with bone cells. The aim of the present study has been to investigate the behaviour and differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells cultured on two substrata consisting of fluorohydroxyapatite (FHA)-coated titanium and characterised by different surface roughness. To this end, osteoprogenitor cells were seeded on the test materials and, once adhered, were induced to differentiate to osteoblastic cells. The cell behaviour on the different surfaces was monitored for a period of up to 2 weeks. The results obtained indicate that FHAs are cytocompatible materials, which allow the adhesion and growth of osteogenic cells. Mesenchymal cells promptly adhered, covering the surface of the test materials, and subsequently expressed some typical markers of osteoblasts. No significant difference in alkaline phosphatase specific activity was observed when comparing the two test material surfaces to plastic control. At 7 days the number of adhered cells and the presence in the medium of C-terminal propeptide of type I collagen appeared lower or slightly lower for cultures on FHA substrata than on plastic control. These differences tended to subside with time.