A STUDY OF CELL BEHAVIOR ON THE SURFACES OF MULTIFILAMENT MATERIALS

Since many fibres are very strong, they are considered to have useful potential for fibre reinforcement of orthopaedic and dental implant ma terials. Fibres exposed on the surface of composites may significantly influence the cellular response not only due to the chemistry but als o due to the fibre size and shape. This study has concentrated on inve stigation of cellular responses to fibre-specific aspects of fibre-rei nforced composites. Four multifilament materials with diameter less th an 20 mu m were used: Kevlar 29 (K), silicon carbide (SiC), nylon 66 ( N), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Established cell line L929 f ibroblasts were used as the cell model. Cell behaviour on the surfaces of fibres was examined using direct cell counting (after 3, 5, 8 h an d 1, 2, 3 days), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (after 2 h and 2 d ays), and fluorescent staining of F-actin, which was analysed by confo cal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) (after 2 h and 2 days). The resul ts showed that fibroblasts adhered and grew very well on all fibre sur faces, although less cells were observed on PET from direct cell count ing. Significant orientational behaviour of cells was found on all fib re surfaces from the SEM and CLSM analysis, independent of the bulk ch emistry of the fibres.