DETERMINATION OF BIOCOMPATIBILITY AND CYTOTOXICITY OF POROUS TITANIUM-BASED MATERIALS IN EXPERIMENT

Aim - to evaluate the proliferative activity of dermal fibroblast cultures in the presence of composite materials based on titanium silicides in vitro. Materials and methods. To assess the proliferative activity of dermal fibroblasts in vitro, the following materials were used: titanium silicide, titanium carbosilicide oxidized in vacuum and without vacuum, titanium VT-00 (comparison group). Testing of proliferative activity was carried out by the direct contact method. The proliferation index, the doubling time and the number of culture doubling during the cultivation period were calculated. Attachment of dermal fibroblasts to the surface of the test materials and their presence on it during cultivation was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Results. The study of the morphofunctional characteristics of dermal fibroblasts cultured in the presence of the test samples of material showed that during the entire experiment no major changes occurred in any of the series, the cells retained the monolayer growth characteristic of fibroblasts, preferably spindleshaped with 2-4 shoots. Moreover, all cultures of dermal fibroblasts underwent the same number of doublings during the experiment and reached saturation density 7 days after sowing, which indicates good proliferative activity of cells in the presence of test materials. The results of scanning electron microscopy demonstrate the high affinity of human dermal fibroblasts for both titanium silicide and titanium carbosilicides. Conclusion. Absence of morphofunctional changes in dermal fibroblasts and active proliferation testify to the absence of cytotoxicity of the investigated alloys, and the ability of cells to adhere to the surface of materials indicates their good biocompatibility.

medical implants, biocomposite materials, titanium silicides, dermal fibroblasts