The role of surface wettability and surface charge of electrosprayed nanoapatites on the behaviour of osteoblasts

A new deposition method is presented, based on electrospraying, that can build bioceramic structures with desirable surface properties. This technology allows nanoapatite crystals, including hydroxyapatite (nHA), carbonate-substituted HA (nCHA) and silicon-substituted HA (nSiHA), to be electrosprayed on glass substrates. Human osteoblast cells cultured on nSiHA showed enhanced cell attachment, proliferation and protein expression, namely alkaline phosphatase, type 1 collagen and osteocalcin, as compared to nHA and nCHA. The modification of nanoapatite by the addition of silicon into the HA lattice structure renders the electrosprayed surface more hydrophilic and electronegatively charged.