title: Biomimetic synthesis and biocompatibility evaluation of carbonated apatites template-mediated by heparin.
abstract: Biomimetic synthesis of carbonated apatites with good biocompatibility is a promising strategy for the broadening application of apatites for bone tissue engineering. Most researchers were interested in collagen or gelatin-based templates for synthesis of apatite minerals. Inspired by recent findings about the important role of polysaccharides in bone biomineralization, here we reported that heparin, a mucopolysaccharide, was used to synthesize carbonated apatites in vitro. The results indicated that the Ca/P ratio, carbon content, crystallinity and morphology of the apatites varied depending on the heparin concentration and the initial pH value. The morphology of apatite changed from flake-shaped to needle-shaped, and the degree of crystallinity decreased with the increasing of heparin concentration. Biocompatibility of the apatites was tested by proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity of MC3T3-E1 cells. The results suggested that carbonated apatites synthesized in the presence of heparin were more favorable to the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells compared with traditional method. In summary, the heparin concentration and the initial pH value play a key role in the chemical constitution and morphology, as well as biological properties of apatites. These biocompatible nano-apatite crystals hold great potential to be applied as bioactive materials for bone tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Studies, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Peking University, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yuhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiaofang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Peizhi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shicheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D032701:Biomimetics; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D006493:Heparin / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002244:Carbon; D006493:Heparin; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase