The Iranian researchers succeeded in synthesizing biocompatible and harmless nano-bio ceramics on whose surfaces bone cells can easily be cultivated.
Nanostructured forsterite is a novel ceramic material which can have practical applications in orthopedic care and tissue engineering.
“Unlike its micrometric counterparts, nanometric forsterite exhibits bioactivity. Excessive release of magnesium and silicon ions can bring about negative effects in biologic systems. Therefore, biocompatibility of nanometric forsterite was evaluated by studying its toxicity on bone cells and growth and cell attachment thereof onto the ceramic surfaces,” Mahshid Kharaziha, a member of the research group told INIC.
The nanopowder was initially prepared through sol-gel method. Next, a dense fragment of nanometric forsterite was fabricated by sintering within a two-stage process.
At a subsequent phase, mechanical properties of the aforementioned dense fragment like hardness and fracture toughness as well as crystallite size of the dense nanometric forsterite were measured. Afterwards, cells were cultivated upon the prepared forsterite nanoceramic samples. Accordingly, the attachment of bone producing cells (osteoblasts) and their proliferation upon the surface of the nanoceramic material were investigated.
Results from cell cultivation experiments indicate that nanometric frosterite can encourage growth of osteoblasts. Also, the aforesaid cells being attached to frosterite surfaces perfectly and growing on it well implies/ascertains the biocompatibility and non-toxic nature of the used nanometric frosterite.
Fars News