Effect of Cu2+ and Fe3+ on osteoblast growth and differentiation in hydrogel RADA16-NBD

Shi Jin-ming; Zhao Gang; Ruan Qiang

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2016.16.009

Abstract：BACKGROUND:It is a mature technology to culture MC3T3-E1 cels in the self-assembling peptide hydrogel, RADA16-NBD. Moreover, it is confirmed that a variety of metal ions, such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, are involved in normal bone metabolism. <br> OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of Cu2+and Fe3+ on the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cels cultured in the self-assembling peptide hydrogel, RADA16-NBD. <br> METHODS: Osteoblasts cultured with RADA16-NBD were divided into three groups and respectively cultured in culture medium containing Cu2+, Fe3+ or serum-free medium (control group), respectively. After 24, 48 and 72 hours, cel proliferation was detected by cel counting kit-8. After 1, 3, 5 days, alkaline phosphatase activity was detected. At 21 days, formation of calcified nodules was observed. Cel migration ability of cels was observed at 24 hours of Transwil chamber culture. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, the proliferative ability of cels cultured in the Cu2+, Fe3+ groups was significantly higher (P < 0.05,P < 0.01). At 72 hours of culture, there was no difference in the cel proliferation among the three groups. At 1, 3, 5 days of culture, the alkaline phosphatase activity in the Cu2+, Fe3+ groups was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05); while at 3 and 5 days of culture, the alkaline phosphatase activity in the Cu2+ group was significantly higher than that in the Fe3+ group (P < 0.05). In addition, the number of migrated cels was higher in the Cu2+ group than the Fe3+ group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that both Cu2+ and Fe3+, especialy the former one, can promote MC3T3-E1 cel proliferation, differentiation and migration.