Human amniotic fluid stem cells culture onto titanium screws: a new perspective for bone engineering.

The use of titanium plates and screws for osteosynthesis is considered to be an effective treatment for different kinds of fractures in orthopedic surgery. The aim of the present study is to test the ability of titanium screws to promote the growth of osteoblasts obtained from human amniotic fluid stem cells (AFS). Osteoblastic differentiation was assessed by RT-PCR of specific markers such as COL1, ONC, OPN, OCN, OPG, BMP-4 and Runx2. Mineralization was demonstrated by the presence of red depositions. Adherent cells were found to cover the whole surface of titanium screw by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The result indicates the excellent growth of osteoblasts obtained from amniotic fluid on a titanium surface and could represent an important point in view of a possible therapeutic application of AFS cells.