The effect of sintered beta-dicalcium pyrophosphate particle size on newborn Wistar rat osteoblasts

During recent years, sintered dicalcium phosphate (SDCP) has been shown to be an effective artificial bone filler for repairing bone defects. The goal of this study was to elucidate the effect of SDCP particle size on osteobl asts. Osteoblasts were mixed and cultured with various sized SDCP particles (0.5-3.0, 37-63, 177-250, and 420-841 mu m) for 1 h, 3 h, 1 day, 3 days, a nd 7 days and then analyzed. The results show that the adding of smaller si zed SDCP particles (0.5-3.0 and 37-63 mu m) into osteoblast culture can sig nificantly affect the cell counts of osteoblasts. The secretion of transfor ming growth factor-beta 1, alkaline phosphatase, and prostaglandin E-2 in c ulture medium increased significantly. The changes were most significant an d persisted longer in smaller particle groups. Small sintered dicalcium pho sphate particles can inhibit the proliferation of the osteoblasts. The inhi bitory effects of the smaller sized SDCP particles on the osteoblasts were mediated by the promotion of osteoblast differentiation and the increased s ynthesis of prostaglandin E-2.