Growth and Potential Damage of Human Bone-Derived Cells Cultured on Fresh and Aged C(60)/Ti Films

Thin films of binary C(60)/Ti composites, with various concentrations of Ti ranging from ~ 25% to ~ 70%, were deposited on microscopic glass coverslips and were tested for their potential use in bone tissue engineering as substrates for the adhesion and growth of bone cells. The novelty of this approach lies in the combination of Ti atoms (i.e., widely used biocompatible material for the construction of stomatological and orthopedic implants) with atoms of fullerene C(60), which can act as very efficient radical scavengers. However, fullerenes and their derivatives are able to generate harmful reactive oxygen species and to have cytotoxic effects. In order to stabilize C(60) molecules and to prevent their possible cytotoxic effects, deposition in the compact form of Ti/C(60) composites (with various Ti concentrations) was chosen. The reactivity of C(60)/Ti composites may change in time due to the physicochemical changes of molecules in an air atmosphere. In this study, we therefore tested the dependence between the age of C(60)/Ti films (from one week to one year) and the adhesion, morphology, proliferation, viability, metabolic activity and potential DNA damage to human osteosarcoma cells (lines MG-63 and U-2 OS). After 7 days of cultivation, we did not observe any negative influence of fresh or aged C(60)/Ti layers on cell behavior, including the DNA damage response. The presence of Ti atoms resulted in improved properties of the C(60) layers, which became more suitable for cell cultivation.