[Protective role of calcium alginate hydrogel beads in cells during calcium phosphate cement setting reaction and its influencing factors].

Objective: To evaluate the protection of calcium alginate hydrogel beads for mouse preosteoblastic cell line (MC3T3-E1) during the setting reaction of calcium phosphate cement (CPC) pastes and to analyze related influencing factors.

Methods: The MC3T3-E1 cells encapsulated in alginate hydrogel beads were cultured in vitro with β-tricalcium phosphate/calcium phosphate cement (β-TCP/CPC) pastes and discs until 2 d. The cell viability and number of live/dead cells were tested using the CCK-8, Calcein-AM and PI, respectively. The effects of CPC paste and CPC disc, different treatment and time to renewal medium on cell viability were compared.

Results: There were no significant differences in optical density and number of live cells between β-TCP/CPC pastes and discs (1 d: P=0.827; 2 d: P=0.965). There were different influences on cell viability between different treatment and time to renewal medium.

Conclusion: The results indicated that the calcium alginate hydrogel beads had a good protection to MC3T3-E1 cells during the setting reaction of CPC pastes. CPC paste might affect the cell proliferation even when solidification. After setting reaction, it may be favorable for cell viability to renew the medium every 6 h in 1 d.