Biocompatibility of echinoderm skeleton with mammalian cells in vitro: preliminary evidence.

The physical and chemical properties of echinoderm skeleton are reviewed. A method is described for preparing cell-free, sterile echinoderm skeletal plates (ossicles) which were used as porous substrates for cell cultures. Ossicles of the starfish Pisaster ochraceus were evaluated as substrates for the culture of three mammalian cell lines. Each line grew vigorously on ossicles, and fibroblasts quickly infiltrated their porous microstructure. Echinoderm skeletal plates provide a simple, convenient alternative to coverslips and porous membranes for SEM or correlated SEM/TEM studies of cell behavior. More importantly, the preliminary evidence for biocompatibility presented suggests that native echinoderm skeleton has potential use as a biomaterial and, because of its microstructure and relative solubility; deserves evaluation as a kind of biodegradable ceramic.