Objective: To investigate the feasibility of the domestic porous tantalum as scaffold material of bone tissue engineering by observing the expressions of osteogenesis related factors of MG63 cells co-cultured with domestic porous tantalum.
Methods: MG63 cells were cultured with porous tantalum scaffolds (group A), with porous tantalum leaching solution (group B), and with MEM as control group (group C). The cell adhesion of group A was observed on the scaffolds at 3, 5, and 7 days after culture by scanning electron microscopy (SEM); immunohistochemistry and Western blot methods were used to detect the expressions of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2), osteocalcin (OC), and fibronectin (FN).
Results: At 3 days after culture, the cells of group A adhered the surface and pore of the porous tantalum scaffolds, with sparse cell arrangement and less protuberances; at 5 days after culture, adjacent cells connected to be a flat each other, which covered the surface and pore of the scaffold; at 7 days after culture, cells secreted plenty of extracellular matrix, covering most of the material surface. The expressions of Runx-2, OC, and FN were positive in 3 groups; darker staining of the cytoplasm was observed in group A, the expressions were significantly higher in group A than in other 2 groups. The results of immunohistochemistry and Western blot showed that the expressions of Runx-2 and OC were significantly increased in group A when compared with those in groups B and C (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between groups B and C (P > 0.05). The expression of FN had no significant difference among 3 groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Domestic porous tantalum could promote MG63 cells adhesion and growth, and may promote the expressions of Runx-2 and OC, so it can be used as a scaffold material of bone tissue engineering.