Abstract
OBJECTIVE: After using hyaluronic acid (HA) to modify curcumin (CUR), the effects of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) combined with HA/CUR on the proliferation and osteogenesis of osteoblasts were investigated. METHODS: First, HA and CUR were esterified and covalently combined to prepare HA/CUR, and the characteristics were observed and the infrared spectrum was tested. Then, HA, CUR, and HA/CUR were mixed with CPC according to 5% ( W/ W) to prepare HA-CPC, CUR-CPC, and HA/CUR-CPC, respectively. Setting time detection, scanning electron microscope observation, injectable performance test, and compression strength test were conducted; and the CPC was used as a control. Osteoblasts were isolated and cultured from the skull of newborn Sprague Dawley rats, and the 2nd generation cells were cultured with the 4 types of bone cement, respectively. The effects of HA/CUR-CPC on the proliferation and osteogenesis of osteoblasts were estimated by the scanning electron microscopy observation, live/dead cell fluorescence staining, cell counting, osteopontin (OPN) immunofluorescence staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining,and alizarin red staining. RESULTS: Infrared spectroscopy test showed that HA and CUR successfully covalently combined. The HA/CUR-CPC group had no significant difference in initial setting time, final setting time, injectable rate, and compressive strength when compared with the other 3 groups ( P>0.05); scanning electron microscope observation showed that HA/CUR was scattered on CPC surface. After co-culture of bone cement and osteoblasts, scanning electron microscopy observation showed that the osteoblasts, which had normal morphology and the growth characteristics of osteoblasts, clustered and adhered to HA/CUR-CPC. There was no significant difference in cell survival rate between HA/CUR-CPC group and other groups ( P>0.05), and the number of cells significantly increased ( P<0.05); the degrees of OPN immunofluorescence staining, ALP staining, and alizarin red staining were stronger than other groups. CONCLUSION: HA/CUR-CPC has good biocompatibility and mechanical properties, which can promote the proliferation and osteogenesis of osteoblasts.