title: [Determination of silver content in silver-loaded coral hydroxyapatite in relation to the biocompatibility].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the amount of silver in silver-loaded coral hydroxyapatite (Ag(+)-CHA) bone substitute and its impact on the biocompatibility of this material with mouse embryonic osteoblast cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ag(+)-CHA was prepared by immersing coral hydroxyapatite in a serial concentration of silver nitrate solutions. The amount of silver in the prepared Ag(+)-CHA was measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The viability of MC3T3-E1 cells incubated with Ag(+)-CHA was measured by MTT colorimetric assay, and the cell growth and morphological changes were observed by inverted phase-contrast microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amount of silver loading in the bone substitutes prepared by immersion in 1×10(-2), 1×10(-3), 5×10(-4), 10(-4), 8×10(-5), and 5×10(-5) mol/L silver nitrate solutions were 4127.67∓47.35, 167.90∓11.00, 83.42∓4.51, 30.20∓2.32, 22.39∓4.09, and 15.11∓0.55 µg/g, respectively. A low silver content in the material (prepared with silver nitrate solution of less than 8×10(-5) mol/L) showed no significant inhibitory effect on the growth of MC3T3-E1 cells or produced noticeable cytotoxic effect. On the materials prepared with 8×10(-5) and 10(-5) mol/L silver nitrate solution, the osteoblasts displayed active proliferation similar to those incubated on materials without silver loading. The confluent cells showed a normal fusiform morphology with tight arrangement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ag(+)-CHA with low silver content has a good biocompability and can promote the proliferation and growth of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro, suggesting the clinical potential of this material as a anti-infection bone substitute.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Command, Guangzhou, China. zhangyu1980cmu@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qing-shui
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xu-qiong
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D012834:Silver / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D012834:Silver; D017886:Durapatite