The Effects of Cerium Oxide Incorporation in Calcium Silicate Coating on Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Macrophage Responses.

Ideal coatings for orthopedic implants should be able to induce excellent osseointegration with host bone tissue, which requires good osteogenic responses and limited inflammatory reactions. Cerium oxide (CeO2) ceramics have anti-oxidative properties and can be used to decrease mediators of inflammation, making them attractive for biomedical application. In this study, two kinds of CeO2 incorporated calcium silicate coatings (CS-10Ce and CS-30Ce) were prepared via plasma spraying technique, and the effects of CeO2 addition on the responses of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and RAW264.7 macrophages were evaluated. The CS-10Ce and CS-30Ce coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. An increase in CeO2 content in the coatings resulted in enhanced chemical stability and better BMSCs osteogenic behaviors in terms of cell adhesion, proliferation, ALP activity, and mineralized nodule formation. With respect to either ZrO2-added or unmodified CS coating, the CS-30Ce coating elicited higher effects on the macrophages, suppressing the gene expressions of pro-inflammatory (M1) markers (CCR7, IL-6, and TNF-α), while upregulating the expressions of anti-inflammatory (M2) markers (CD206, IL-1ra, and IL-10); moreover, it could also increase the expression of osteoinductive molecules (BMP2 and TGF-β1) by the macrophages. The results suggested that the regulation of BMSCs behaviors and macrophage-mediated responses at the coating's surface was related to CeO2 incorporation. The incorporation of CeO2 in CS coatings can be a valuable strategy to promote osteogenic responses and mitigate inflammatory reactions.