BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF GLASS-CRYSTALLINE MATERIALS OBTAINED BY THE SOL-GEL METHOD - EFFECT ON MACROPHAGE FUNCTION

The aim of this work was to confirm in vitro biocompatibility of a new gel-derived glass-crystalline material containing hydroxyapatite and wollastonite phases. For the purpose of comparison, studies were also carried out for a material of the same chemical composition obtained b y the traditional melting method. We examined the behaviour and respon se of cells cultured in the presence of the studied materials. The lev el of activation of macrophages in culture was determined using three different methods: measurement of respiratory burst by chemiluminescen ce, nitrite assay and by bioassay of secreted cytokines after immunoel ectrophoresis of acute phase proteins from hepatoma cells. All our res ults show a relatively low, close to control level, activation of macr ophages exposed to the studied materials. This indicates a good biocom patibility of both the gel-derived material and the material obtained by the traditional melting method. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited