The role of new zinc incorporated monetite cements on osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

•The fabrication of novel zinc incorporated monetite cements is reported•The setting reaction of the cements was carried out in presence of β-TCP reagent powders doped with zinc ions•The release of zinc from the monetite cement regulated the late response of hMSCs

β-Tricalcium phosphate particles were sintered in the presence of different amounts (0-0.72 mol) of zinc oxide (ZnO) to prepare zinc doped β-TCP (Znβ-TCP) particles for further use in novel monetite (DCPA: CaHPO4) zinc incorporated bone cements with osteogenic differentiation potential towards human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). XRD analysis of zinc incorporated cements prepared with β-TCP reagent particles doped with different amount of ZnO (i.e. 0.03, 0.09 and 0.18 mol ZnO) revealed the presence of unreacted Znβ-TCP and monetite. Furthermore, it was shown that zinc ions preferentially occupied the β-TCP crystal lattice rather than the monetite one. Release experiments indicated a burst release of ions from the different fabricated cements during the first 24 h of immersion with zinc concentrations ranging between 85 and 100% of the total concentration released over a period of 21 days. Cell proliferation significantly increased (P < 0.05) on zinc incorporated monetite respect to control samples (Zinc-free cement) at 7 and 14 days post seeding. The expression of Runx-2 was significantly up regulated (P < 0.05) in the case of cells seeded on monetite prepared with β-TCP doped with 0.03 moles of ZnO. On the other hand, the cell mineralization as well as the expression of osteogenic marker genes ALP and OSC decreased significantly (P < 0.05) at 14 days post cell seeding. In conclusion, these results suggest that the zinc ions released from the cements during the first 24 h of culture played a critical role in regulating the osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs.