Sol-gel derived aluminosilicate coatings on alumina as substrate for osteoblasts.

Rat bone marrow stromal cell differentiation on aluminosilicate 3Al(2)O(3)-2SiO(2) coatings was investigated. Thin ceramic coatings were prepared on alpha-alumina substrates by the sol-gel process and calcined in order to establish an amorphous aluminosilicate ceramic phase with and without nanosized transitional mullite crystals. In addition, coatings of thermally sprayed aluminosilicate and diphasic gamma-alumina-silica nanosized colloids were prepared.