Different substitute biomaterials as potential scaffolds in tissue engineering.
OBJECTIVE
To find the optimal scaffold for tissue-engineered bone, one approach is to test existing biomaterials on their suitability as scaffolds. In this study, the suitability of different alloplastic and xenogenic biomaterials as scaffolds for ex vivo osteoblast cultivation was investigated.


METHODS
Normal human osteoblast cells were cultured on the surface of bovine collagenous materials, bovine hydroxyapatite, porcine gelatin, synthetic polymer, and collagen-containing bovine hydroxyapatite, and the investigation of proliferation was performed after 24, 72, and 120 hours. Measurement of the differentiation marker alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin was made after 20 days of incubation.


RESULTS
The obtained data showed significantly higher proliferation and differentiation rates in cells cultivated on collagen-rich biomaterials in comparison to noncollagenous or collagen-poor biomaterials (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
In tissue engineering the scaffold should be biocompatible and serve as a proper matrix for the cells to produce the new structural environment of extracellular matrix ex vivo. Collagen supports initial cell attachment and cell proliferation, allowing immature osteogenic cells to differentiate into mature osteoblasts, but collagen may not be the only dominating factor for cell-matrix interaction during ex vivo bone formation.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that a 3-dimensional collagen matrix can provide a more favorable environment for the attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of in vitro osteoblastlike cells, at least until the initial stage of differentiation, than noncollagenous biomaterials.
Petrovic
Ljubinko
L
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. Ljubinko.Petrovic@mkg.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Schlegel
Andreas K
AK
Schultze-Mosgau
Stefan
S
Wiltfang
Jörg
J
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen; D004146:Dioxanes; D017886:Durapatite; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D011108:Polymers; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004146:Dioxanes; D011108:Polymers; D015675:Osteocalcin; C079733:poly-4-dioxan-2-one; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D005780:Gelatin; D003094:Collagen; D017886:Durapatite; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase