No abstract

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is well known as a potent angiogenic factor playing a crucial role in wound-healing processes. Apatitic substrates such as hydroxyapatite and carbonated apatite (CA) could be potential carriers of growth factors because of their physicochemical similarities to bone mineral. These materials have been compared for their bFGF adsorption and release properties. The adsorption of the growth factor was higher on carbonated apatite than on hydroxyapatite, probably owing to environments with labile nonapatitic CO3(2-) and HPO4(2-) groups, along with a higher specific surface area which gives the CA a higher surface reactivity. These environments can be exchanged very rapidly, leading to the release of bFGF. The controlled release of adsorbed growth factor from carbonated apatite could provide means of improving bone healing in the future.

The aim of our study was to assess the ability of calcium phosphate powders to serve as growth factor carriers. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in particular, is locally involved in the bone formation process throughout osteoblast differentiation. Two different apatitic substrates were tested: hydroxyapatite (HA), widely used as biomaterial, and nanocrystalline carbonated apatite (CA), which has a composition similar to bone mineral crystals. These materials have been compared for their VEGF adsorption and release properties. The adsorption of the growth factor was higher on CA than on HA probably due to differences of both the proteins and the powders involved. The specific activity of the VEGF released was also tested to determine the available activity for cells in contact with these materials. Interestingly, the bioactivity of the VEGF released from CA quantified on fetal bovine aortic endothelial cells (FBAE) by evaluating the proliferation activity, exhibited no marked difference compared to native VEGF. Qualitatively, VEGF adsorbed on CA material induced well-defined collagen type I immunostaining on osteoblast cells compared to the staining obtained after VEGF adsorption on HA.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of three calcium phosphate powders entering in the composition of bone substitute materials on osteoblast-cells activity. These powders were hydroxyapatite (HA) widely used as a biomaterial, nanocrystalline carbonate apatite (C A) very close to bone mineral crystals, and an experimental one: calcium phosphate cement-1 (CPC-1) composed of an amorphous Ca-P phase and brushite. The powders were physico-chemically characterized. The very reactive CPC-1 powder became transformed in cell culture medium: recrystallization of amorphous precursors and hydrolysis of brushite into poorly crystalline apatite occurred. Osteoblast-cells activity was evaluated: for low level of calcium phosphates (>100 microg/ml) CPC-1 enhanced proliferation and, to a lesser degree, differentiation on alkaline phosphatase activity. For 100 microg/ml of powders we observed a great alteration of biological activity of the osteoblasts: evaluation of proliferation indicated an inhibition for all samples, and a decrease of two differentiation markers: alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin release were noticed, suggesting a down regulation due to the presence of large amount of mineral powder.