Osteoblast attachment monitored with a quartz crystal microbalance

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Abstract
A quartz crystal microbalance is used in aqueous solutions to monitor the rate of attachment of osteoblasts, bone-forming cells, to the surface of the crystal. Changes in resonant frequency of the crystal are measured for various surface coverages by osteoblasts. Crystal surface coverages are determined by digital image processing of scanning electron micrographs. A linear relationship is established between the surface coverages and the changes in resonant frequency of the crystal. The osteoblasts are observed to behave viscoelastically. Hence, the Sauerbrey equation can not be used to describe the relationship between the change in mass of osteoblasts on the surface and the change in resonant frequency of the crystal. Apparent viscosities at 5.0 MHz are also determined for osteoblasts.

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