Morphology expression and proliferation of human osteoblasts on bioactive glass scaffolds

Bioactive glass was supposed as a biodegradable material and designed as a scaffold to be used for bone reconstruction or regeneration. Bioactive glass scaffold with pore sizes ranged in 100-400μm in diameter was fabricated by sol-gel method, and the biocompatibility evaluation of bioactive glass scaffolds was also performed by culture in vitro models. Cells cultured in the extracts of bioactive glass appeared to show normal morphology. The scaffolds supported osteoblast growth and induced differentiation within the 21 d culture period. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) demonstrated the normal cell distribution and proliferation on porous biomaterials. Osteoblasts attached and proliferated on the scaffold as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Nodule formation and multilayer structures were observed on the scaffold surface and in the pores of the glass. The relationship between seeding density and viability of human osteoblasts cultured on the porous bioactive glass were measured.