Development of magnetic particle techniques for long-term culture of bone cells with intermittent mechanical activation

Magnetic particles were coated with RGD and adhered to primary human osteoblasts. During a 21-day culture, the osteoblasts plus adhered magnetic particles underwent a daily exposure to a time-varying magnetic field via a permanent NdFeB magnet, thus applying a direct mechanical stress to the cells (B/sub max//spl sim/60 mT). After 21 days, preliminary results show that the cells plus magnetic particles were viable and had proliferated. A von-kossa stain showed mineralized bone matrix produced at 21 days in the experimental group whereas the control groups showed no mineralized matrix production. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at 21 days showed an upregulation of osteopontin from the experimental group in comparison to the control group of cells with adhered particles and no magnet applied. These preliminary results indicate that adherence of RGD-coated 4.5 /spl mu/m ferromagnetic particles to primary human osteoblasts does not initiate cell necrosis up to 21 days in vitro. Also, mechanical stimulation of human osteoblasts by magnetic particle technology appears to have an influence on osteoblastic activity.