Exploring the Biological Impact of β-TCP Surface Polarization on Osteoblast and Osteoclast Activity.

β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is a widely utilized resorbable bone graft material, whose surface charge can be modified by electrical polarization. However, the specific effects of such a charge modification on osteoblast and osteoclast functions remain insufficiently studied. In this work, electrically polarized β-TCP with a high surface charge density was synthesized and evaluated in vitro in terms of its physicochemical properties and biological activity. Polarization was performed to achieve a high surface charge density, which was quantified using a thermally stimulated depolarization current. The proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells were assessed via WST-8 and alkaline phosphatase assays. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and a resorption pit assay were used to evaluate the impact of surface charge on RAW264.7 osteoclast-like cell activity. Polarized β-TCP exhibited a surface charge of 1.3 mC cm. Electrically polarized surfaces significantly enhanced osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. TRAP activity assays demonstrated effective osteoclast differentiation of RAW264.7 cells, with enhanced activity observed on charged surfaces. Resorption pit assays further revealed improved osteoclast resorption capacity on β-TCP surfaces with a polarized charge. These findings indicate that β-TCP with a highly dense surface charge promotes osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, as well as osteoclast activity and resorption capacity.