EFFECTS OF THE SURFACE WETTABILITY AND ZETA-POTENTIAL OF BIOCERAMICS ON THE ADHESIVENESS OF ANCHORAGE-DEPENDENT ANIMAL-CELLS

Using calcium phosphate ceramics that have high biocompatibility with the living body, the effects of the surface characteristics of the bio ceramics on cell adhesiveness were investigated. In the case of carrie rs with contact angles from 35-degrees to 60-degrees, the cell adhesiv eness increased according to the increase in the wettability. Measurem ent of the zeta potentials of HAP-TCP sinters showed that these biocer amics had negative potentials from -2 mV to -6 mV. Electrochemical ana lysis suggested thal the initial cell anchoring ratio (R(ia)) and adhe sive strength (F(a.enz)) were affected by the surface ionic condition of the ceramic material. To clarify the effects of the surface potenti al of the ceramics on cell adhesiveness, the ceramic surface was modif ied chemically by means of various silane coupling reagents. The surfa ce potential was regulated from -20 mV to +24 mV. Using these ceramics , the affinity and adhesiveness of the cells to the ceramics were foun d to be dominantly regulated by the surface potential. A negative pote ntial was effective in increasing the adhesiveness, even though living cells have negative charges.