Genetic Effects of Trabecular Titanium™ on Human Osteoblast-Like Cells (MG-63): An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Pure titanium and titanium alloys are materials widely used in orthopaedics and dental surgery because of their mechanical properties, chemical stability and biocompatibility. Although excellent clinical results have been shown, traditional porous metals have several inherent limitations (low volumetric porosity, relatively high modulus of elasticity and low frictional characteristics, availability as a coating only). With the aim of moving beyond these limits, improving the potentiality of osteointegration and consequently the stability of prosthetic implants, a new highly porous titanium biomaterial (Trabecular Titanium™, TT) has been developed. In this in vitro study, we are testing the effects of TT on osteoblast-like cells (MG63) cultured on disks of this biomaterial by using DNA microarrays containing 20,000 genes. We identified several genes covering a broad range of functional activities whose expression was significantly up- or down-regulated. Findings from this study can give a detailed description of the genetic effects TT has on human osteoblast-like cells in vitro. We demonstrated that TT stimulates osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, and reduces osteoblast apoptosis. Moreover, TT limits osteoclastogenesis, inflammation and reduces the immunologic events against the material, modulating genes related to the immune system. Therefore, all these effects contribute to improve osseointegration and consequently survival of the prosthetic implants. These reported data encourage the clinical application of Trabecular Titanium™ to prosthetic devices.