Electromagnetically enhanced coating of a sintered titanium grid with human SAOS-2 osteoblasts and extracellular matrix.

The surface modification of a sintered titanium scaffold could play an important role in bone tissue engineering. In this study we have followed a biomimetic strategy where electromagnetically stimulated human SAOS-2 osteoblasts proliferated and built their extracellular matrix on a sintered titanium grid. In comparison with control conditions (standard cell culture incubator, where no electromagnetic stimulus was detectable), the electromagnetic stimulus (magnetic field, 2 mT; frequency, 75 Hz) increased the cell proliferation and the surface coating with decorin, osteopontin, and type-I collagen. The electromagnetic stimulus aimed at obtaining a better surface coating of the sintered titanium grid in terms of cell colonization and bone matrix. The superficially modified biomaterial could be used, in clinical applications, as an implant for bone repair.