Effects of degradable osteosynthesis plates of MgYREZr alloy on cell function of human osteoblasts, fibroblasts and osteosarcoma cells

The aim was to evaluate the biocompatibility of osteosynthesis plates of the MgYREZr/WE43 alloy by using human cells in vitro. Eluates of degradable magnesium osteosynthesis plates as well as halved plates were used for incubation with human osteoblasts, fibroblasts and osteosarcoma cells. The cell viability was evaluated by using FDA/PI-Staining and LDH analysis. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT, WST-Test and BrdU-ELISA. Scanning electron microscope was used for investigation of the cell adhesion. The number of devitalized cells in all treatment groups did not significantly deviate from the control group. According to MTT results, the number of metabolically active cells was not significantly affected by the addition of the eluates. The number of metabolically active cells was reduced by 24 to 38% compared to the control on incubation in direct contact with the osteosynthesis plates. The proliferation of the cells was inhibited by the addition of the eluates. While the eluate of the half-hour elution has only a very small effect, the 24 h eluate significantly inhibits proliferation by 23–25% compared to the control. The roughened surface of the magnesium osteosynthesis plate after incubation showed adherent cells. However, some areas of the plates were also free of adherent cells. WE43 based magnesium alloys showed favorable biocompatibility considering the viability of the cells evaluated; however, proliferation rates were reduced in a time dependent manner, especially in fibroblast group. This might be a potential clinical benefit of magnesium osteosynthesis plates and their superiority to titanium, thus the fibroblastic ingrowth might negatively influence the bone-plate contact. Graphical abstract