Cytocompatibiltiy of degradable calcium metaphosphate with human marrow mesenchymal stem cells

AIM: To screen the cytotoxicity of degradable calcium metaphosphate (dCMP) compared with hydroxyapatite (HA). The proliferation and differentiation abilities of human marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were used to exhibit the cytotoxicity. METHODS: The cell morphology of MSC was analysed after direct contact with dCMP at different time points by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The degradation products of dCMP and HA were analysed with inductively coupled plasma torch and ion chromatography. The cytotoxic effect of degradation products of dCMP was evaluated by FACS, quantitative assay of ALP and ARS, respectively. RESULTS: dCMP enhanced the proliferation of MSC, but didn't interfere the osteogenic differentiation process of MSC and its mineralization. HA inhibited the proliferation of MSC and the mineralization of osteogenic differentiated MSC, while it did not interfere the osteogenic differentiation process of MSC. CONCLUSION: dCMP had a better cytocompatibility with MSC than HA, which might allow for its use as skeleton scaffolds.