Preparation of osteocompatible Si(IV)-enriched chitosan-silicate hybrids

Chitosan-gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS)-tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) hybrid membranes were prepared by the sol-gel method. The effects of Si(IV) released from them on cell proliferation and differentiation were examined in terms of cell metabolic activity and the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of MG63 osteoblastic cells. The amount of Si(IV) released from the hybrid membranes increased with the TEOS content. The released Si(IV) inhibited cell proliferation but promoted cell differentiation. Thus, the osteocompatibility of the chitosan hybrid membranes in the chitosan-GPTMS-TEOS system can be controlled by the amount of Si(IV) released from them when they are applied to cell culture. (C) 2010 The Ceramic Society of Japan. All rights reserved.