The resorption of nanocrystalline calcium phosphates by osteoclast-like cells

Received 12 October 2009; received in revised form 24 February 2010; accepted 1 March 2010. published online 08 March 2010.

Abstract

Nanocrystalline calcium phosphates containing carbonate have a high similarity to bone mineral. The reactions of bone cells (primary osteoblasts and osteoclast-like cells) on these materials as well as on sintered β-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite (HA) confirmed a good biocompatibility of the nanocrystalline samples. However, osteoclastic differentiation was constrained on the carbonate-rich samples, leading to a small number of osteoclast-like cells on the materials and few resorption pits. The grain size of the calcium phosphate ceramics (nano vs. micro) was less important than expected from to physico-chemical considerations. When comparing the nanocrystalline samples, the highest resorption rate was found for nano-HA with a low carbonate content, which strongly stimulated the differentiation of osteoclast-like cells on its surface.

Keywords: Calcium phosphate, Bone substitution materials, Resorption, Osteoblasts, Osteoclast-like cells

a BioCer EntwicklungsGmbH, Ludwig-Thoma-Str. 36c, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany

b Inorganic Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CeNIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstr. 5-7, 45117 Essen, Germany

c Friedrich-Baur-Research Institute for Biomaterials, University of Bayreuth, Ludwig-Thoma-Str. 36c, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany

d Center for Medical Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitaetsstr. 5-7, 45117 Essen, Germany

Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 921555591.

Corresponding author. Tel.: +49 2011832413.

PII: S1742-7061(10)00129-7

doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2010.03.003

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