Viability, adhesion, and bone phenotype of osteoblast-like cells on polyelectrolyte multilayer films

The aim of this study was to develop new biocompatible coatings for bone implants by the alternating deposition of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. Polyelectrolyte films were built up with different terminating layers on which SaOS‐2 osteoblast‐like cells and human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells were grown. The terminating layer was made of one of the following polyelectrolytes: poly(ethylene imine) (PEI), poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PSS), poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), poly(L‐glutamic acid) (PGA), or poly(L‐lysine) (PLL). Cell adherence, viability, stability of osteoblast phenotype, and inflammatory response were studied. Adherence and viability were good on all terminating layers except the PEI‐terminating layer, which was cytotoxic. Maintenance of osteoblast phenotype marker expression was observed on PSS‐ and PGA‐terminating films for both cell types, whereas downregulation, associated with the induction of Interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) secretion, was detected on PEI and PAH for both cell types and on PLL for PDL cells. These results suggested a good biocompatibility of PSS‐ and PGA‐ending films for PDL cells and of PSS‐, PGA‐, and PLL‐terminating films for SaOS‐2 cells. As a result, polyelectrolyte multilayer films could emerge as new alternatives for implant coatings. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 60: 657–667, 2002