title: In vitro studies on the effect of delaminated a-C:H film fragments on bone marrow cell cultures.
abstract: Amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) films have many outstanding properties required for a protective coating material on load bearing medical implants. Recently, titanium doped a-C:H films have been evaluated regarding their effects on bone marrow cell cultures. But many materials that are well-tolerated in bulk form are able to induce toxic reaction if present particulate form. In order to further assess biocompatibility aspects of these two coatings, film delamination has been mimicked in exposure to fluids. In the present study, particles from a-C:H, a-C:H/Ti and a-C:H-a-C:H/Ti bilayer films were added to bone marrow cell cultures in vitro. The results showed that plain a-C:H and to a certain extent a-CH/Ti particles were inert. Both kinds of particles did not significantly stimulate the osteoclast-related enzyme tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). A slight increase in cell proliferation and total culture TRAP was found in cultures treated by a-C:H-a-C:H/Ti bilayer films. Latter effect can probably be traced back by the relative high percentage of small particles of a size of around 2 microm. However, if corrected by the cell number also no differences between particle-treated and untreated control cultures could be found, indicating the absence of a toxic effect from delaminated a-C:H coatings.
authors.affiliation: EMPA Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, St. Gallen, Switzerland. arie.bruinink@empa.ch
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruinink
authors.forename: Anouk
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Francz
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D002244:Carbon; D006859:Hydrogen; D014025:Titanium