BackgroundSurface characters of culture plates affect cellular behaviors such as cellular alignment and elongation. Microgrooves guide the cell growth along the grooves and spread. The aim of this study was to observe the effect of fibronectin (FN)-coated micro-grooved titanium plates on the alignment, spread, adhesion, and proliferation of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs).Material/MethodsMicro-grooved titanium plates were fabricated, and FN was immobilized onto the micro-grooved surfaces using silanization. HGFs were cultured on the smoothed or micro-grooved (with 35 μm width, 15 μm bridge, 10 μm depth) titanium plates, with or without the FN coating. We assessed the water contact angle and blood compatibility of the surfaces, and the earlier adhesion, adhesion strength, proliferation and morphology of the cells growing on the different titanium surfaces.ResultsThe results revealed that the blood hemolysis rates of different titanium surfaces were within the safety limits. HGFs aligned along the grooves, spread out more evidently, and showed significantly more adhesion in the FN-coated micro-grooved surface compared with other surfaces (p<0.05).ConclusionsThe micro-grooved surface coated with FN guides the HGFs to align along the grooves, and promotes cell spread, adhesion and proliferation, which might be used to improve the efficacy of dental implants.

Objective: To investigate the effect of simvastatin on the biomechanical characteristics of the femur in ovariectomized rats. Material and methods: Fifty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats, aged three months old, were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated group ( SHAM; n = 18), ovariectomized group (OVX; n = 18), and ovariectomized with simvastatin treatment group (OVX+SIM; n = 18). Eight weeks after being ovariectomized, simvastatin was administered orally at 5 mg/kg each day in the OVX + SIM group. The animals were sacrificed at either four or 12 weeks after administration and femurs were obtained. Biomechanical parameters were measured by the three-point bending test. Results: There were no significant differences in the maximal strain and flexibility strain between the OVX and OVX + SIM groups at either four or 12 weeks after administration (p > 0.05). In contrast, significant differences in flexibility loading at four weeks and in maximal loading, flexibility loading, and the coefficient of bending ductility between the OVX and OVX + SIM groups at either four or 12 weeks (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Intergroup comparisons showed that maximal loading and flexibility loading have significant differences in the OVX + SIM group (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Simvastatin shows potential in promoting bone remodeling, changing bone micro-architecture, and influencing the integration and distribution ratio of organic and inorganic constituents in bone tissue of ovariectomized rats. In addition, a longer time of administration with simvastatin could enhance the femoral strength.