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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2011
The role of the conformation and bioactivity of adsorbed vitronectin in enhancing osteoblast (the bone-forming cells) adhesion on nanophase (that is, grain sizes less than 100 nm) alumina was investigated in the present in vitro study. Results obtained from surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) provided the first evidence of increased unfolding of vitronectin adsorbed on nanophase alumina. This conclusion was further supported by dose-dependent inhibition of cell adhesion on nanophase alumina pretreated with vitronectin following preincubation of osteoblasts with either Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic Acid-Serine (RGDS) or Lysine-Arginine-Serine-Arginine (KRSR) to block respective cell-membrane receptors. These events, namely enhanced unfolding of vitronectin that leads to exposure of bioactive epitopes (such as RGDS) in adsorbed vitronectin may explain the observed increased osteoblast adhesion on nanophase alumina.