Bioactivation of alumina by surface modification: a possibility for improving the applicability of alumina in bone and oral repair.
OBJECTIVE
In regenerative medicine, surface engineering of bioinert synthetic materials is often required in order to introduce bioactive species that can promote cell adhesion, proliferation, viability and enhanced ECM-secretion functions. The aim of this work is to study cell interaction with alumina-modified surfaces.


METHODS
In this work, chemical properties of alumina surface were changed by a reaction at the surface of alumina with low molecular weight dicarboxylic acid, which produced carboxyl groups.


RESULTS
These carboxyl groups were able to complex with Ca2+ on the surface, forming sites of precipitation for calcium phosphates that make alumina biocompatible, as indicated by cell culture of pre-osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1 cell line).


CONCLUSIONS
The procedure presented in this work shows that the insertion of specific functional groups on the surface of alumina increases cell interaction with the surface of alumina. This knowledge can be important in oral science and orthopedics, for the construction of prosthesis.
Bertazzo
S
S
Chemistry Institute, State University of Campinas, P.O. Box 6154, Campinas, SP CEP 13084-862, Brazil. sbertazzo@iqm.unicamp.br
Zambuzzi
W F
WF
da Silva
H A
HA
Ferreira
C V
CV
Bertran
C A
CA
D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013499:Surface Properties
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C041069:carboxyl radical; D000535:Aluminum; D002118:Calcium