Effect of nanofiber-coated surfaces on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoprogenitors in vitro.

The osteoconductive property of titanium (Ti) surfaces is important in orthopedic and dental implant devices. Surface modifications of Ti have been proposed to further improve osseointegration. In this study, three different materials, silicon (Si), silicon oxide (SiO(2)), and titanium oxide (TiO(2)), were used to construct nanofibers for surface coating of Ti alloy Ti-6Al-4 V (Ti alloy). MC3T3-E1 osteoprogenitor cells were seeded on nanofiber-coated discs and cultured for 42 days. DNA, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and mineralization nodules were measured using PicoGreen, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and calcein blue staining to detect the attachment, proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells, respectively. The results demonstrated that the initial cell attachments on nanofiber-coated discs were significantly lower, although cell proliferation on Si and SiO(2) nanofiber-coated discs was better than on Ti alloy surfaces. TiO(2) nanofibers facilitated a higher cellular differentiation capacity than Ti alloy and tissue culture-treated polystyrene surfaces. Thus, surface modification using nanofibers of various materials can alter the attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of osteoprogenitor cells in vitro.