BACKGROUND: To fabricate strontium (Sr)-incorporated titanium (Ti) surfaces by a novel 1-step phase-transited lysozyme (PTL) treatment, and investigate the effects of the prepared samples on osteogenesis and osteoimmunoregulation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five groups of titanium specimens were prepared, including Ti, PTL, PTL@10Sr (PTL coating with 10 mg/mL Sr), PTL@20Sr PTL coating with 20 mg/mL Sr), and PTL@50Sr (PTL coating with 50 mg/mL Sr) groups. Behaviors of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) such as initial attachment, spread, proliferation, and migration, on different surfaces were examined by immunofluorescence, MTS assay, and Transwell system. Then the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was detected. When an immune response was factored in, the polarization of macrophages induced by the prepared surfaces was detected by real-time PCR, and the response of BMSCs to macrophage-conditioned medium was assessed in terms of cell migration and osteogenic differentiation. Finally, an in vivo study was performed, using the rat femora implant model, to evaluate the potential for osteogenic induction and osteoimmunoregulation of materials.

RESULTS: Our in vitro experiments indicated that PTL coating could improve cell spread and adhesion, and the stable Sr release of PTL@Sr layers could promote cell migration and osteogenesis. Moreover, PTL@Sr surface could regulate the immune response of macrophages resulting in enhanced BMSCs recruitment and osteogenic differentiation. The in vivo evaluation showed less inflammatory infiltration and improved bone formation in the PTL@20Sr group.

CONCLUSIONS: The Sr-loaded PTL layers have greater potential for the induction of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, meanwhile Sr-loaded PTL layers could adjust the immune response and thus promote osteogenesis both in vitro and in vivo.

Keywords: Dental Implantation, Immunomodulation, Osteogenesis, Strontium, Titanium, Cell Polarity, Coated Materials, Biocompatible, Culture Media, Conditioned, Ions, Macrophages, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Muramidase, Phase Transition, Photoelectron Spectroscopy, RAW 264.7 Cells, Surface Properties