The effect of fluoride contents in fluoridated hydroxyapatite on osteoblast behavior

Fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FHA) discs with various fluoride contents (0–0.0577 mol F−/mol apatite) have been used to investigate the effect of fluoride content on osteoblastic cell behavior. SAOS-3 rat osteosarcoma cells were cultured on FHA discs for different time periods. The cell behavior was examined in terms of cell attachment, proliferation, morphology and differentiation. The fluoride content in FHA discs strongly affected the cell activities. More cell attachment and proliferation were observed on the fluoride-containing FHA discs than on pure hydroxyapatite (HA). The fluoride content also affected the differentiation behavior of osteoblastic cells. Cells on FHA discs demonstrated a higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity than those on pure HA after 3 weeks of culturing. These results suggested that fluoride ions have a significant impact on different osteoblastic cell activities.