The Utilization of MG-63 Osteosarcoma Cells as a Biocompatibility Model for Bone Regeneration in Manufactured Scaffolds

Abstract

When a bone is broken beyond traditional repairs, medical advancements have created a new pathway for bone transplants that involves manufactured scaffolds. These scaffolds can be 3D printed to any size, and donated bone cells can be placed onto scaffolding, and regeneration of the bone will occur. This is due to the scaffold mimicking tissue structures that are naturally found in the body acting as an anchor for the bone cells. The choice of the scaffold material is important to consider in order to help the tissue heal properly while also being able to withstand damages that come with daily life. Graphene-based nanocomposites allow for flexibility in the bone; however, it is necessary to run a biocompatibility evaluation to enhance the scaffolding material and test structure properties to ensure success in treatment later. The osteoblast-like MG-63 human osteosarcoma cell line is utilized in bioengineering to test the biocompatibility of a variety of materials due to its cost and ability to behave like a healthy osteoblast. Our lab evaluated the induction of osteoblast-like activity in this cell line when introduced to different supplements. The experiments conducted reproduced similar results to past experiments, indicating that the MG-63 cell line induces the osteogenic marker alkaline phosphatase upon treatment with TGFβ and/or vitamin D supplements.