title: Structure and in vitro cytocompatibility of the gastropod shell of Helix pomatia.
abstract: Distinguishing features of biological constructions are high stability and adaptation to their environment. Beside biocompatibility, nontoxicity and degradability these characteristics are demanded for new biomaterials in the field of tissue engineering. This study investigated the chemical composition, the organization and the in vitro osteoconductive potential of the terrestrial gastropod shell (Helix pomatia) on CAL72 and human osteoblast-like cells. Chemical composition of the biomaterial was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to analyze the architecture of the snail shell and the morphology of the seeded cells. A double staining procedure (FDA/PI) and a proliferation test (EZ4U) assessed the viability of the cells. Microscopical images showed the multilayered architecture of the aragonite shell with hexagonal crystals on the inner side. The cells spread well on the biomaterial and the highest proliferation rate could be measured with CAL72 cells on the inner shell surface. The osteoconductive effects of this natural biomaterial could encourage further experiments in the field of tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, University Hospital Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. maria.baechle-haas@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bächle
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hübner
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kohal
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiedmann-Al-Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001857:Bone Matrix / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006372:Helix, Snails / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014093:Tooth, Artificial / Q000639:trends; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; C020243:calcium phosphate; D002119:Calcium Carbonate