Osteoblasts cultured on three-dimensional synthetic hydroxyapatite implanted on a chick allantochorial membrane induce ectopic bone marrow differentiation.

Osteoblast (OB) activities have been studied on hydroxyapatite three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds in comparison with traditional planar substrata. OBs cultured on 3D displayed increased proliferation, differentiation, and matrix protein synthesis, when compared to 2D cultures on the same substrata. Confluent cultures, however, could not be maintained for long, due to insufficient fluid diffusion within 3D scaffolds that impaired cell viability.