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Nanocrystalline spherical hydroxyapatite granules for bone repair: in vitro evaluation with osteoblast-like cells and osteoclasts

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Abstract

Conventionally sintered hydroxyapatite-based materials for bone repair show poor resorbability due to the loss of nanocrystallinity. The present study describes a method to establish nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite granules. The material was prepared by ionotropic gelation of an alginate sol containing hydroxyapatite (HA) powder. Subsequent thermal elimination of alginate at 650 °C yielded non-sintered, but unexpectedly stable hydroxyapatite granules. By adding stearic acid as an organic filler to the alginate/HA suspension, the granules exhibited macropores after thermal treatment. A third type of material was achieved by additional coating of the granules with silica particles. Microstructure and specific surface area of the different materials were characterized in comparison to the already established granular calcium phosphate material Cerasorb M®. Cytocompatibility and potential for bone regeneration of the materials was evaluated by in vitro examinations with osteosarcoma cells and osteoclasts. Osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells proliferated on all examined materials and showed the typical increase of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity during cultivation. Expression of bone-related genes coding for ALP, osteonectin, osteopontin, osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein II on the materials was proven by RT-PCR. Human monocytes were seeded onto the different granules and osteoclastogenesis was examined by activity measurement of tartrate-specific acid phosphatase (TRAP). Gene expression analysis after 23 days of cultivation revealed an increased expression of osteoclast-related genes TRAP, vitronectin receptor and cathepsin K, which was on the same level for all examined materials. These results indicate, that the nanocrystalline granular materials are of clinical interest, especially for bone regeneration.

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Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the excellent technical assistance of Sophie Brüggemeier and Ortrud Zieschang. We acknowledge G. Schneider (Institute of Materials Science, TU Bergakademie, Freiberg, Germany) for XRD measurements. We thank A. Voß and A. Voidel (Leibnitz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden) for ICP-OES measurements and evaluation of the data. We are grateful to Curasan AG (Kleinostheim, Germany) for generous supply of Cerasorb M.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Translational Bone, Joint and Soft Tissue Research, Medical Faculty of Technische Universität Dresden and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Fetscher Str. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    A. Bernhardt, A. Lode, F. Despang & M. Gelinsky

  2. TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Institute of Electronic and Sensor Materials, Gustav-Zeuner-Str. 3, 09596, Freiberg, Germany

    R. Dittrich

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  1. A. Bernhardt
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Correspondence to A. Bernhardt.

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Bernhardt, A., Dittrich, R., Lode, A. et al. Nanocrystalline spherical hydroxyapatite granules for bone repair: in vitro evaluation with osteoblast-like cells and osteoclasts. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 24, 1755–1766 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-013-4933-2

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