Cs. Koontz et al., COMPARISON OF GROWTH AND METABOLISM OF AVIAN OSTEOBLASTS ON POLISHED DISKS VERSUS THIN-FILMS OF TITANIUM-ALLOY, Journal of biomedical materials research, 42(2), 1998, pp. 238-244
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using high v
acuum, thermal evaporation to deposit thin films of Ti-6Al-4V onto pla
tes for subsequent cell culture investigations. Osteoblastic response
to thin-film coated plates was compared to that of cells grown on Ti a
lloy disk inserts and uncoated culture plates. The Ti alloy disks were
polished, cleaned, and passivated following a commercial protocol for
orthopedic implants. Mean surface roughness was 262 nm for the Ti all
oy disks and 4.756 nm for the coated culture plates. Osteoblasts isola
ted from 16-day chick embryo calvariae were cultured on polystyrene, t
hin films, and disks. At confluence, the cells were cultured an additi
onal 48 h and were evaluated for cell number (DNA content), rate of gl
ycolysis (lactate production), alkaline phosphatase activity (ALPase),
and collagenous (H-3-proline hydroxylation) and noncollagenous protei
n synthesis. Cell morphology was similar for the controls, disks, and
thin-film groups. DNA, lactate, cell layer ALPase, H-3-hydroxyproline,
and noncollagenous protein were not different (p > 0.05) among the co
ntrol, thin-film, and disk groups. Medium ALPase was lower (p < 0.05)
in the thin-film group compared to the control group. Although aluminu
m and vanadium percentages varied from nominal in the thin-film groups
(11A1-2V as opposed to 6A1-4V), avian osteoblasts responded similarly
to the Ti alloy thin films, disks, and uncoated culture plates for th
e smooth surfaces tested. The thin-film cell culture system used for e
lemental material studies appears to offer a promising method for the
investigation of cellular response to alloyed biomaterials as well. Pr
oper adjustments in alloy percentages before deposition, however, need
to be made if thermal evaporation is utilized. (C) 1998 John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.