Intersomatic cages made of “CFRP” allow a larger proliferation and replication of the osteoblast cells than the “PEEK” one. An innovative cellular model for the in vitro study

The mechanical properties of intersomatic cages made of different materials for spine arthrodesis are well known. Instead, their osteogenetic, osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties have not yet been investigated as this would imply long and high-cost animal in vivo studies. To better understand the biological features of these implants we developed a new cellular model, suitable for the rapid in vitro determination of the above parameters. The cell model derives from a human osteosarcoma cell line, Saos-2, which maintains the cytological features of the osteoblast cells. With this cell line, genetically modified for an in vitro study, we tested two different materials for intersomatic cages. Our results suggest that the intersomatic cages made of carbon fibre reinforced polimer (CFRP) allow a larger proliferation of the cellular line and a more homogeneus bone cell pattern of distribution than the polietereterechetone (PEEK) one.