Strategies Combining Cells and Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

Engineering bone typically uses highly porous scaffolds, osteoblasts orcells that can become osteoblasts, and regulating factors that promote cell attachment,differentiation, and mineralized bone formation. In this study we investigatedthe effects of the electromagnetic stimulation on SAOS-2 cells, from a humanosteosarcoma cell line using a sintered 3D titanium scaffold. In comparisonwith control conditions (standard cell culture incubator, where no electromagneticstimulus was detectable), the electromagnetic stimulus (magnetic field, 2 mT; frequency,75 Hz) increased the cell proliferation and the surface coating withdecorin, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and type-I collagen. The electromagnetic stimulusaimed at obtaining an improved cell proliferation and production of bone proteins,with a consequent surface coating of the scaffold. The protein-coated 3D titaniumscaffold could be used, in clinical applications, as an implant for bone repair.