Strategy to enhance the osseointegration process : synthetic peptides improving osteoblast adhesion on implant surface

In order to improve the integration process between surgically placed implants and biological tissues, biomaterials of the next generation have to be designed to enhance and support osteoblast adhesion. In fact, it has been demonstrated that the quality of the early cell/material interactions is highly responsible for the long-term functional response of implants. Polystyrene surfaces have been conditioned with different synthetic peptides and their abilities to osteoblast adhesion have been compared. The results obtained applying the best-performing peptides in osteoblast adhesion assays on acellular bone matrix are herewith discussed.