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This article reports the effect of strontium incorporation into hydroxyapatite nanocrystals on bone cells response. Hydroxyapatite nanocrystals were synthesized at strontium contents of 0, 1, 3, 7 atom %. Strontium incorporation for calcium is confirmed by the linear increase of the unit cell parameters of hydroxyapatite, in agreement with the different ionic radii of the two ions. Moreover, strontium substitution slightly affects hydroxyapatite structural order and the shape of the nanocrystals. Osteoblast-like MG63 cells cultured on the nanocrystals display good proliferation and increased values of the differentiation parameters. In particular, when cultured on samples with Sr concentration in the range 3-7 atom %, osteoblasts display increased values of ALP activity, collagen type I, and osteocalcin production. Moreover, the osteoclast number on all the Sr-doped samples is significantly smaller than on hydroxyapatite, and it decreases on increasing strontium content. The data indicate that strontium stimulates osteoblast activity and exerts its inhibitory effect on osteoclast proliferation even when incorporated into hydroxyapatite.

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