Bioceramics surface modification by means of osteoclasts in culture.

The specific objectives of this study was: (I) to investigate the effect of various biomedical ceramics such as tricalcium phosphate (TCP), hydroxyapatite (HA), and aluminum-calcium-phosphorous oxide (ALCAP) on the adherence and viability of mice osteoclasts (OT) in vitro, and (II) to evaluate the role of OT that might have on the surfaces of such bioceramics. The OT cells were isolated from adult male mice and seeded at a density of 5 x 10(5) cells/well according to standard laboratory procedures. Cells were plated in each micrometer-well pretreated with ceramic capsules (HA, TCP and ALCAP) and buffered control. At the end of 1, 2, 3 and 5 days, the viability and cell number of OT were determined using an established assay. Cell number was determined in control wells with known number of cells, and a standard curve was generated by plotting absorbency units versus cell number. Biochemical analysis was performed on the aliquots obtained from the experimental and control wells at the end of each phase of the investigation. The data from this experiment suggest that: (I) OT are capable of adhering to the surface of HA, TCP and ALCAP in an in vitro environment for over a 5-day period. (II) Long-term incubation of ceramic capsules with OT revealed that the cells experienced gradual disassociation phenomenon with a greater numbers of cell detachments seen in the ALCAP contained wells. (III) SEM analysis of representative capsules demonstrated that there was an increase in the number of micro/macropores on the surface of the materials after contacting a cellular environment. This observation suggest that the material surface has been modified (TCP > HA = ALCAP). Information obtained from this study provided new insights on the interrelationship between bioceramics and the possible OT response during chronic inflammation at the site of implantation.