Behaviors of MC3T3-E1 cells on carbonated apatite films, with a characteristic network structure, fabricated on a titanium plate by aqueous spray coating

Four carbonated apatite films having average thicknesses of 1.3–0.11 μm, proportions of network sizes above 10 μm of 41–68%, and average border heights of the characteristic network structure of 0.98–0.29 μm were fabricated on a titanium plate by aqueous spray coating. These carbonated apatite films after heat treatment showed good mineralization ability in Hanksʹ balanced salt solution. Assessment of initial cell attachment and calcination on these films and on the Ti plate using osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 indicated that the carbonated apatite film heat treated at 600 °C, whose film thickness, proportion of network sizes above 10 μm, and border height were 0.11 μm, 61%, and 0.31 μm, respectively, was most preferred by osteoblastic cells. Field emission scanning electron microscopic observation of the cells attached to the films showed that the wide network and low border height of the network structure on the carbonated apatite film play an important role in the development of the filopodia of the osteoblastic cells.