Standardised testing of bone-implant surfaces using an osteoblast cell culture system. Part I: Standard materials in orthopaedic surgery

The effect of standard orthopaedic materials on proliferation and different iation of osteoblasts was examined using a standardised cell culture system . Osteoblasts hFOB 1.19 were cultured on stainless steel(SS), a chromium-co balt-molybdenum alloy (CrCoMb) and commercially pure titanium (cpTi) for 12 days. Cell culture polystyrene (PS) was used as a reference, Cell numbers and cell viability were used as parameters of proliferation. Cell different iation was assessed using alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen I and ost eocalcin production. The parameters of proliferation showed earlier maximum values on PS and cpTi, while proliferation was delayed on SS and CrCoMb. T he highest values of differentiation were found on cpTi. The development of alkaline phosphatase activity showed tao peaks reflecting apoptosis and re differentiation. The cell culture system hFOB 1.19 is thus suitable for revealing difference s in proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts on standard orthopaed ic materials. The results correlate with previous in vivo findings. Using t his system, the dynamic effect of the material surface on the differentiati on process of osteoblasts can be demonstrated.