Objective: 

Bone disease is a serious health condition that directly impacts on the quality of life of sufferers, particularly among the aged. Although autogenous bone grafts are still considered the gold standard for bone replacement and allogenic bone grafts are widely used, several biomaterials (metals, calcium phosphate ceramics, bioactive glasses, polymers, composites) have been developed with more or less clinical success. That is why there is a significant need and demand for the development of a bone substitute that is bioactive and exhibits material properties (mechanical and surface) comparable with those of natural, healthy bone.

Methods: 

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ion different degree substitutions in biomimetic synthesized calcium phosphates (Mg-CPs; Zn-CPs) on viability and proliferation of cultured human (Lep3 embryonic cell line), murine (primary bone marrow, NIH 3T3 fibroblasts) and rat (bone marrow) cells. The cells were cultured in DMEM medium incubated for 4 h in the presence of CPs placed on glass slide (100 mg compound/5 cm2 glass slide, 10 ml medium).

Results: 

The investigations were performed after 72 h and 144 h of treatment periods using MTT test, neutral red uptake assay, trypan blue dye exclusion method, crystal violet staining, single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) and double staining with acridine orange and propidium iodide. A positive correlation between the data obtained by the above-mentioned methods was observed indicating the low toxicity of the CPs tested.

Conclusions: 

Additional investigations are underway to clarify better the biocompatibility of the materials examined. Acknowledgement: Supported by Grant DTK-02-70/2009 from National Science Fund, Bulgaria.