No CrossRef data available.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Extensive interactions of inflammatory cells (such as macrophages) with biomaterials at the host-implant interface are often blamed for failure of implanted biomedical devices [1]. While previous studies have shown increased in vitro and in vivo bone cell (osteoblast) responses on nanophase ceramics [2], few (if any) studies have been conducted to elucidate inflammatory cell responses on such novel materials. In this study, we reported that macrophage adhesion and proliferation on nanophase (97.7 nm grain size) alumina (Al2O3) was significantly less than conventional (187.4 nm grain size) alumina, respectively, after 4, 12, 24 h. The present study provides evidence of the ability of nanophase alumina to down-regulate macrophage adhesion and proliferation, which is imperative for the future consideration of nanophase materials for orthopedic and dental applications.