The influence of pore size on osteoblast phenotype expression in cultures grown on porous titanium

This study investigated the effect of pore size on osteoblastic phenotype development in cultures grown on porous titanium (Ti). Porous Ti discs with three different pore sizes, 312 mu m (Ti 312), 130 mu m (Ti 130) and 62 mu m (Ti 62) were fabricated using a powder metallurgy process. Osteoblastic cells obtained from human alveolar bone were cultured on porous Ti samples for periods of up to 14 days. Cell proliferation was affected by pore size at day 3 (p = 0.0010), day 7 (p = 0.0005) and day 10 (p = 0.0090) in the following way: Ti 62 < Ti 130 < Ti 312. Gene expression of bone markers evaluated at 14 days was affected, RUNX2 (p = 0.0153), ALP (p = 0.0153), BSP (p = 0.0156), COL (p = 0.0156), and OPN (p = 0.0156) by pore size as follows: Ti 312 < Ti 130 < Ti 62. Based on these results, the authors suggest that porous Ti surfaces with pore sizes near 62 mu m, compared with those of 312 mu m and 130 mu m, yield the highest expression of osteoblast phenotype as indicated by the lower cell proliferation rate and higher gene expression of bone markers.