Novel ceramic bone replacement material CeraBall® seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells

Objectives: Hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) are two very common ceramic materials for bone replacement. A recently developed material for bone replacement is CeraBall®, which is a mixed HA–TCP scaffold available as porous spherical scaffolds of diameter 4 and 6 mm. Before their use as bone replacement materials in vivo, in vitro testing of these scaffolds is necessary. The goal of this study was to characterise 4 and 6 mm CeraBall® scaffolds in vitro with a view to their future use as bone replacement materials. Materials and methods: The proliferation of human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) seeded on CeraBall® scaffolds was evaluated quantitatively using the WST [Water soluble tetrazolium ((4‐[3‐(4‐ Iodophenyl)‐2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐2H‐5‐tetrazolio]‐1, 3‐benzene disulfonate)] test and qualitatively by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the standard MTT [(3‐(4, 5‐Dimenthylthiazol‐2‐Y1)‐2, 5‐Diphenyltetrazolium bromide)] biocompatibility test and cell vitality staining were performed using hMSCs. CeraBall® scaffolds were also tested for their mechanical properties. Results: SEM and WST test results showed that hMSCs proliferated on CeraBall® scaffolds over the course of 9 days. Proliferation was similar to that seen on tissue culture polystyrene (control). Cells showed a well‐spread morphology and formed ‘sheets’ on the surface of scaffolds. Invasion of pores was observed. Good biocompatibility was demonstrated by MTT test results and cell vitality staining. Scaffolds of both 4 and 6 mm were able to withstand compressive loads of 5 N. Conclusions: CeraBall® scaffolds show good biocompatibility in vitro for hMSCs. This opens the way for in vivo applications. To cite this article: Douglas T, Liu Q, Humpe A, Wiltfang J, Sivananthan S, Warnke PH. Novel ceramic bone replacement material CeraBall® seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells. Clin. Oral Impl. Res. 21, 2010; 262–267. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐0501.2009.01818.x