Detection of collagen synthesis by human osteoblasts on a tricalcium phosphate hydroxyapatite: An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigation

The effect of a hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate (HA) material on collag en synthesis by human osteoblasts was investigated using X-ray photoelectro n spectroscopy (XPS). To this aim, thin HA slices were exposed to osteoblas ts harvested from three different patients, for 20 days and then analyzed b y XPS. Platinum plates were also exposed to the cells for comparison, and c ontrol tests were performed on both materials using cell-free media. XPS an alysis supported by standard spectra of some polyaminoacids and of collagen deposited on HA suggested that a deposition of collagen occurred on the HA slices in the presence of osteoblasts. On the other hand, only an aspecifi c deposit-ion of proteins was observed on platinum and when cell-free media were used. These data were confirmed evaluating collagen synthesis by [H-3 ]proline incorporation of osteoblasts exposed to HA. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.