Influence of osteocalcin and collagen I on the mechanical and biological properties of Biocement D

Abstract In order to generate a calcium–phosphate bone cement as a transient replacement for bone defects, we modified Biocement D (Merck Biomaterial GmbH) containing mineralised collagen [1] with osteocalcin, the most abundant non-collageneous protein of bone. Osteocalcin was added to the cement paste during setting in order to control the crystallisation kinetics of hydroxyapatite (HAP) as well as to stimulate the interaction of osteoblasts and osteoclasts with the bone replacement material. Analysis by SEM and AFM shows, that the addition of osteocalcin causes a nanosize microstructure of the calcium cement, which can be explained by inhibited growth of HAP crystals. The fracture strength of the material decreased by incorporation of osteocalcin, pointing onto a higher defect concentration of the crystalline structure. The impact of osteocalcin onto the interaction of bone cells with HAP–Collagen I–cements was studied in a cell culture system using the human osteosarcoma cell line SAOS-2. Results suggest, that osteocalcin might possibly improve the initial adherence of osteoblast-like cells, whereas proliferation of the cells is not effected.