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Cell-mediated resorption of densely sintered hydroxyapatite (HA1250), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), and 600 degrees or 900 degrees C calcined hydroxyapatite (HA600 and HA900, respectively), was investigated by using two culture systems. The first was an osteoclastic cell culture, and the second was a two-stage culture that was composed of a bonelike tissue formation on the substrata in the first stage and its subsequent resorption by osteoclasts in the second stage. Neither of the materials showed resorption or surface alterations in the osteoclastic cell culture, except for some limited phagocytotic activity on HA600 and HA900. In the two-stage culture, production of mineralized extracellular matrix was only observed on HA1250 and TCP, and its subsequent resorption by osteoclastlike cells was evident. Small and occasionally larger tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive cells produced 20-150 microns diameter resorption pits in both the mineralized extracellular matrix on HA1250 and TCP and the surfaces of HA600 and HA900. Resorption of the mineralized extracellular matrix on TCP also resulted in degradation of the underlying ceramic surface, mainly initiating from intergrain boundaries, whereas the surface of HA1250 remained unaltered. The results of this study clearly demonstrate that osteoclastic resorption of calcium phosphates is potentiated in postosteogenic culture conditions. A possible role for bone matrix constituents in cell-mediated resorption is hypothesized, whereas the occurrence of resorption seems to be mainly governed by the combined effects of material characteristics such as grain size and crystal structure.

The availability of osteoinductive coatings on dental and orthopedic implants will result in an improved fixation of these devices. Those cases where implants are placed in poor-quality bone or where high failure rates are obtained are especially expected to gain from such coatings. This paper presents a novel, biological approach to obtain bioactive and osteoinductive coatings on bone-replacement implant materials. This so-called tissue engineering approach utilizes osteogenic bone marrow cells that are cultured on an implant material to form a bone-like tissue. The implant materials used herein included porous calcium phosphate scaffolds and metallic plates, the latter of which were coated with a biomimetic calcium phosphate coating to facilitate cellular attachment. Bone marrow cells were obtained from a variety of species, including humans, and were grown to facilitate cellular proliferation. The cells were subsequently seeded onto the implants and cultured for an additional week to facilitate osteogenic differentiation and extracellular matrix production. The resulting hybrid implants, encompassing the biomaterial carrier and cultured bone-like tissue, were subsequently implanted subcutaneously in nude mice for 4 weeks, followed by histological examination for de novo bone formation. The results revealed that newly formed bone was seen both in porous implants and on flat metallic surfaces. This bone tissue engineering approach, therefore, offers great potential to enhance bony healing around implants in a compromised bone bed.

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