OBJECTIVEA novel biological piezoelectric ceramic was made by beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) and lithium sodium potassium niobate (LNK) piezoelectric ceramics. To study its biocompatibility to osteoblast isolated from the cranium of 1-day-old Sprague-Dawley mice.

METHODSThe biological piezoelectric ceramic TCPLNK1/10, TCPLNK5/5 respectively mixed by beta-TCP and LNK piezoelectric ceramic at the ratio of 1/10 and 5/5. Then osteoblasts were used and seeded respectively on the negative and positive surfaces of TCPLNK1/10 and TCPLNK5/5. Growth and proliferation of the osteoblasts on TCPLNK1/10 and TCPLNK5/5 surfaces were evaluated in vitro by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination, fluorescence dyeing of osteoblast skeleton protein and MTT assay.

RESULTSCell morphology of osteoblast on positive and negative surfaces of TCPLNK1/10 and TCPLNK5/5 was normal, and both adhesion and growth characteristics showed better than control group. The growing osteoblasts on the TCPLNK1/10 negative surface were significantly higher than others. The negative surface of TCPLNK1/10 possessed better osteogenesis potential than others in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThe surface of TCPLNK may permit the imitation piezoelectric effect of natural bone for bone regeneration.