Growth and phenotypic expression of human endothelial cells cultured on a glass-reinforced hydroxyapatite

Glass-reinforced hydroxyapatite composites (GR–HA) are bone regenerative materials that are characterized by their increased mechanical properties, when compared to synthetic hydroxyapatite. Bonelike ® is a GR–HA that is a result of the addition of a CaO–P 2 O 5 based glass to a HA matrix. This biomaterial has been successfully applied in clinical bone regenerative applications. This work aims to evaluate the ability of Bonelike ® to support the adhesion, proliferation and phenotypic expression of human endothelial cells, aiming to establish new bone tissue engineering pre-endothelialization strategies. Bonelike ® discs, regardless of being submitted to a pre-immersion treatment with culture medium, were seeded with first passage human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and characterized regarding proliferation and differentiation events. Pre-immersed Bonelike ® allowed the adhesion, proliferation and phenotype expression of endothelial cells. Seeded materials presented positive immunofluorescent staining for PECAM-1 and a tendency for the formation of cord-like arrangements under angiogenesis-stimulating conditions, although, compared to standard culture plates, a slight decreased cell growth was observed. In this way, Bonelike ® may be a suitable candidate for pre-endothelialization approaches in bone tissue engineering applications.