This study investigated the effect of biodegradable Mg and Mg alloys on selected properties of MC3T3-E1 cells elicited by direct cell/material interaction. The chemical composition and morphology of the surface of Mg and Mg based alloys (Mg2Ag and Mg10Gd) were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EDX, following corrosion in cell culture medium for 1, 2, 3 and 8 days. The most pronounced difference in surface morphology, namely crystal formation, was observed when Pure Mg and Mg2Ag were immersed in cell medium for 8 days, and was associated with an increase in atomic % of oxygen and a decrease of surface calcium and phosphorous. Crystal formation on the surface of Mg10Gd was, in contrast, negligible at all time points. Time-dependent changes in oxygen, calcium and phosphorous surface content were furthermore not observed for Mg10Gd. MC3T3-E1 cell viability was reduced by culture on the surfaces of corroded Mg, Mg2Ag and Mg10Gd in a corrosion time-independent manner. Cells did not survive when cultured on 3 day pre-corroded Pure Mg and Mg2Ag, indicating crystal formation to be particular detrimental in this regard. Cell viability was not affected when cells were cultured on non-corroded Mg and Mg alloys for up to 12 days. These results suggest that corrosion associated changes in surface morphology and chemical composition significantly hamper cell viability and, thus, that non-corroded surfaces are more conducive to cell survival. An analysis of the differentiation potential of MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on non-corroded samples based on measurement of Collagen I and Runx2 expression, revealed a down-regulation of these markers within the first 6 days following cell seeding on all samples, despite persistent survival and proliferation. Cells cultured on Mg10Gd, however, exhibited a pronounced upregulation of collagen I and Runx2 between days 8 and 12, indicating an enhancement of osteointegration by this alloy that could be valuable for in vivo orthopedic applications.
The biodegradable magnesium-based implants have been widely utilized in medical orthopedic applications in recent years. We have recently shown that direct culture on Pure Mg and Mg2Ag alloys lead to a progressive differentiation impairment of MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. In this study, we aimed to analyze the apoptotic reaction of MC3T3-E1 cells in response to the direct culture on Pure Mg, Mg2Ag and Extreme High Pure Mg (XHP Mg) alloy samples. Our results demonstrated that long-term culturing of MC3T3-E1 cells on Pure Mg and Mg2Ag alloys induce time-dependent expression of active caspase-3 (active casp-3) and cleaved PARP-1 (cl. PARP-1), the hallmark of apoptosis reactions concomitant with a significant increase in the number of dead cells. However, direct culture on XHP Mg material results in a lower number of dead cells in comparison to Pure Mg and Mg2Ag alloys. Furthermore, XHP Mg materials influence expression of apoptotic markers in a process resembles that of observed in osteogenic condition apparently indicative of MC3T3-E1 osteodifferentiation. This study indicates that Mg alloy samples mediated differential apoptotic reactions of MC3T3-E1 cells can be ascribed to factors such as distinct topography and hydrophobicity features of Mg material surfaces, contrasting nature/composition of corrosion products as well as different impurities of these materials. Therefore, initial Mg alloys surface preparation, controlling the growth and composition of corrosion products and Mg alloys purity enhancement are necessary steps towards optimizing the Mg alloys usage in medical orthopedic applications.Graphical Abstract
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.