BIOCOMPATIBILITY TESTING OF A BOVINE HYDROXYAPATITE CERAMIC MATERIAL WITH THE USE OF OSTEO-PROGENITOR CELLS ISOLATED FROM HUMAN BONE-MARROW

Bioactive materials such as hydroxyapatite ceramics are known to show a stable interfacial bond with tissues. The objective of this study was to investigate the behaviour of human bone differentiated cells isolated from bone marrow on the surface of a hydroxyapatite ceramic obtained from bovine spongiosa. Scanning electron microscopy and DNA synthesis analysis assessed by [H-3]-thymidine incorporation showed cell colonization of the whole material. Immunological studies using monoclonal antibodies to osteocalcin and osteonectin and cytochemical analysis of alkaline phosphatase activity indicated that these cells did not lose their osteoblastic phenotype after 28 days of culture. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the in vitro interface between the material and human cells, which is reproduced in vivo.