Surface modification of titanium fiber-mesh scaffolds through a culture of human SAOS-2 osteoblasts electromagnetically stimulated

Abstract

The surface properties of a biomaterial are fundamental in order to determine the response of the host tissue. In the present study we have followed a particular biomimetic strategy where electromagnetically stimulated SAOS-2 human osteoblasts proliferated and built their extracellular matrix on a titanium fiber-mesh surface. In comparison with control conditions, the electromagnetic stimulation (magnetic field intensity, 2 mT; frequency, 75 Hz) caused higher cell proliferation and increased surface coating with type-I collagen and decorin (9.8-fold and 11.3-fold, respectively). The immunofluorescence of type-I collagen and decorin showed their colocalization in the cell-rich areas. The use of an electromagnetic bioreactor aimed at obtaining the surface modification of the biocompatible metallic scaffold in terms of cell colonization and coating with extracellular matrix. The superficially modified biomaterial could be used, in clinical applications, as an implant for bone repair.