The aim of this work was to produce hydroxyapatite (HA) granules containing 0, 0.5, 1 and 5 mol. (%) of strontium (Sr), evaluate the physico-chemical properties and also the cytotoxicity by three different parameters of cell viability (ISO 10993-5, 10993-12). The physico-chemical characterization was carried out by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The XRD profile presented the main peaks of HA (JCPDS 860740) and the absorption bands of HA were identified by FTIR. The XRF results showed that the strontium concentration was close to the theoretical value. Regarding the cytotoxicity assays, the incorporation of strontium up to 5 mol. (%) to the HA did not affected dehydrogenase activity (XTT, 2,3-bis[2-methyloxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide), membrane integrity (neutral red uptake) or DNA contend (incorporation of crystal violet), in relation to HA alone. In conclusion, hydroxyapatite containing from 0.5 to 5 mol. (%) of Sr was successfully produced and presented no cytotoxicity.
strontium; hydroxyapatite; cytotoxicity
