Clinical Trials Study
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World J Stem Cells. Sep 26, 2014; 6(4): 497-504
Published online Sep 26, 2014. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v6.i4.497
Ability of bone graft substitutes to support the osteoprogenitor cells: An in-vitro study
Ziad Dahabreh, Michalis Panteli, Ippokratis Pountos, Mark Howard, Peter Campbell, Peter V Giannoudis
Ziad Dahabreh, Michalis Panteli, Ippokratis Pountos, Peter V Giannoudis, Academic Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, LS1 3EX Leeds, United Kingdom
Mark Howard, Smith and Nephew Research Centre, YO10 5DF York, United Kingdom
Peter Campbell, Trauma and Orthopaedics Surgery, York Teaching Hospitals, YO31 8HE York, United Kingdom
Author contributions: All the authors solely contributed to this paper.
Supported by Educational grant by Smith and Nephew
Correspondence to: Peter V Giannoudis, BSc, MB, MD, FRCS, Professor, Academic Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Great George Street, LS1 3EX Leeds, United Kingdom. pgiannoudi@aol.com
Telephone: +44-113-3922750 Fax: +44-113-3923290
Received: May 20, 2014
Revised: August 20, 2014
Accepted: August 30, 2014
Published online: September 26, 2014
Abstract

AIM: To compare seven commercially available bone graft substitutes (BGS) in terms of these properties and without using any additional biological growth factors.

METHODS: Porcine osteoprogenitor cells were loaded on seven commercially available BGS and allowed to proliferate for one week followed by osteogenic induction. Staining for live/dead cells as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out to determine viability and cellular binding. Further outcome measures included alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays with normalisation for DNA content to quantify osteogenic potential. Negative and positive control experiments were carried out in parallel to validate the results.

RESULTS: Live/dead and SEM imaging showed higher viability and attachment with β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) than with other BGS (P < 0.05). The average ALP activity in nmol/mL (normalised value for DNA content in nmol/μg DNA) per sample was 657.58 (132.03) for β-TCP, 36.22 (unable to normalise) for calcium sulphate, 19.93 (11.39) for the Hydroxyapatite/Tricalcium Phosphate composite, 14.79 (18.53) for polygraft, 13.98 (8.15) for the highly porous β-Tricalcium Phosphate, 5.56 (10.0) for polymers, and 3.82 (3.8) for Hydroxyapatite.

CONCLUSION: Under the above experimental conditions, β-TCP was able to maintain better the viability of osteoprogenitor cells and allow proliferation and differentiation (P < 0.05).

Keywords: Bone graft, Bone graft substitute, Osteoprogenitor cells, Fracture healing, Bone

Core tip: Various commercially available bone graft substitutes (BGS) exist today and are used for the restoration of bone defects resulting from traumatic injury, tumor resection and congenital or degenerative diseases. Such BGS should pose osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties and support cell response to the osteogenic signalling. This study evaluated seven commercially available BGS in terms of osteoprogenitor cell adherence, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. β-tricalcium phosphate was found to have the most favourable effect on cell viability and allow for their subsequent proliferation and differentiation.