Background: Protein adsorption is believed to be the first event that takes place after contact of natural tissue with an artificial surface. Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is one of the major noncollagenous proteins in the extracellular matrix of bone. The expression of BSP coincides with initial bone mineralization and is believed to be a center of crystallization for hydroxyapatite formation.
Material/methods: We used a variety of four differently designed dental implant surfaces (SLA, CPT, ANOX, TICER) to investigate the effects on the development of adult human mandibular bone at days 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 in vitro. The time course of the expression of BSP and labeling of fibroblasts was visualized immunohistochemically. The distribution patterns of cells were determined semiquantitatively on both the surface and the tissue-implant borderline.
Results: BSP immunoresponse increased from day 5 before decreasing after day 15 in vitro. The distribution of BSP-expressing cells changed during that time. Cell counts revealed that the time course of the settlement of cells depended on the design of the surface of the implant. The design of the border of the implant affected both the cell distribution patterns and the survivals of cells to a higher degree than did the design of the implant surface.
Conclusions: Investigation of novel biomaterials for bone engineering represents an essential area for the design of tissue-engineering strategies. The hydroxyapatite-based implant material TICER could be a good scaffold to guide and promote the regeneration of bone tissue.