Abstract
A major objective of this research work was to evaluate the effect of bone cells on the dissolution‐precipitation reaction in vitro. Rat bone marrow stem cells were seeded on silica‐calcium phosphate nano composite (SCPC) with different chemical compositions and crystalline structures. Measurements of the Ca, P, Si, and Na concentrations in the tissue culture media using inductively coupled plasma indicated that bone marrow stem cells attached to the surface of SCPC did not affect the dissolution behavior of the material. However, bone marrow stem cells interfered with the back precipitation reaction and inhibited the formation of a calcium phosphate (Ca‐P) layer on the material surface. Scanning electron microsope‐energy‐dispersive X‐ray analyses showed that, in the absence of cells, a Ca‐P layer formed on the material surface because of the dissolution‐precipitation reaction. Bone cells attached to SCPC that contains high silica content absorbed significantly higher concentrations of medium Ca than cells attached to SCPC that contains low silica content. In conjunction with the absorption of high Ca concentration, attached bone marrow stem cells produced calcified nodules and mineralized extracellular matrix, indicating osteoblastic differentiation. Results of the study strongly suggest that the mechanism of bone mineralization at the interface with bioactive ceramics is mainly cell mediated and is enhanced by the absorption of critical concentrations of dissolved Ca and P. The silicon‐rich phase also provided a guided cell adhesion and tissue growth in vitro. The enhanced bioactivity reactions and strong stimulatory effect on bone cell function are attributed to the modified crystalline structure of the SCPC material. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2006