2011 Volume 3 Issue 1 Pages 231-236
Coral is a porous material with tubular cavities that could be effectively used as scaffolding for bone augmentation. To investigate the tissue affinity of coral, we examined its biocompatibility and formation of blood capillaries in vitro, and its chemical characteristics. Coral (montipora digitata) deproteinized with NaOH was used. Normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were co-cultured. The coral and ceramic bone substitute particles were then seeded in the culture medium. After 10 days of co-culture, the cultured cells were stained immunohistochemically with anti-human CD31 antibody, and the state of capillary formation was observed. Cells without these particles were co-cultured as a control. The coral and ceramic bone substitute particles were soaked in calcium containing buffers (pH 6.0, pH 7.0, pH 8.0) and a culture medium for 48 hours, and the calcium density in the buffer and medium were then measured. The calcium density in a solution without these particles was measured as the control group. After 10 days of co-culture, cells consisting of NHDF and HUVEC grew densely around the coral particles. In vitro, the formation of anti-human CD31-positive blood capillaries was seen around coral particles. However, the formation of capillaries was depressed compared with the control group. The density of calcium in the pH 6.0 and pH 7.0 buffer was increased, whereas that of the pH 8.0 and the culture medium was decreased compared with the control group. These findings suggest that the depression of capillary formation in co-cultures with coral particles was caused by a decrease in the calcium density of the culture medium.
