Experimental Study on Osteoblast-compatibility of Piezoelectric Ceramic

Objectives: Considering the piezoelectricity of the bone, we tried to put piezoelectric ceramic into polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and expected the low electricity of this new type of denture material would inhibit or limit the resorption of residual ridge (RRR). The study aimed to evaluate the effects of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-based (BNT) and NbO3-based (NKN) lead-free piezoelectric ceramic on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast.

Methods: Primary osteoblast of rat was cultured using cranium and was identified through HE staining, ALP staining, immunohistochemical staining of type±collage and alizarin red staining of calcifying nodi . A conventional ceramic fabrication method was employed to prepare the BNT-based ceramic, after that, their electric properties were investigated. Using NKN and BNT as tests, PMMA and blank as controls, cell morphologies around these materials were observed by phase contrast microscope. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 days and differentiated cell function was assessed by measuring alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity at 1, 4, 7, 10 days.

Results: 1. Cultured cells and the preparation of BNT, NKN and PMMA can be used for further experiments. 2. Under the same conditions, a better osteoblast spreading degree was observed for BNT group than that for the other three groups after 6 hours. Compared to the NKN and PMMA, BNT showed a higher optical density (OD) at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 days (P<0.05) and a higher ALP activity at 1, 7, 10 days (P<0.05). Compared to the blank, the OD of BNT was higher at 1, 3, 5, 7 days (P<0.05) and the ALP activity higher at 7, 10 days (P<0.05).

Conclusion: BNT have a good role in promoting cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation and have a better osteoblast-compatibility than NKN and PMMA.