Tricalcium phosphate-based biocomposites for mandibular bone regeneration—A histological study in sheep

• Published in: Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery Vol. 43; no. 5; pp. 696 - 704
• Main Authors: Russmueller, G, Moser, D, Spassova, E, Plasenzotti, R, Poeschl, P.W, Seemann, R, Becker, S, Pirklbauer, K, Eder-Czembirek, C, Czembirek, C, Perisanidis, C, Ewers, R, Schopper, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2015
• Subjects: Absorbable Implants; Animals; Autografts - pathology; Autografts - transplantation; Autologous bone marrow; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Bone Marrow Transplantation - methods; Bone regeneration; Bone Regeneration - physiology; Calcium Phosphates - chemistry; Coagulation factor XIII; Connective Tissue - pathology; Dentistry; Factor XIII - therapeutic use; Female; Mandible - pathology; Mandible - physiopathology; Mandibular defect; Mandibular Diseases - pathology; Mandibular Diseases - therapy; Osteogenesis - physiology; Polyesters - chemistry; Polylactide scaffold; Sheep; Surface Properties; Surgery; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry; Tricalcium phosphate; Mandibular defect; Coagulation factor XIII; Tricalcium phosphate; Polylactide scaffold; Autologous bone marrow; Bone regeneration
• ISSN: 1010-5182; 1878-4119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2015.03.022

Abstract The present study investigated the suitability of three different absorbable biocomposites for the repair of critical sized bone defects created at the mandibular angle of adult sheep. Each biocomposite was composed of a three-dimensional individualized polylactide scaffold, containing a tricalcium phosphate biomaterial (chronOS® ). Either autologous bone marrow (chOS/BoneMarrow) or coagulation factor XIII (chOS/FactorXIII) was added to the biomaterial for osteopromotion. Venous whole blood (chOS/Blood) added to the biomaterial served as a control. A total of 18 adult sheep were used for implantation studies, subdivided into three groups of six animals each. After 12 weeks of observation, the animals were sacrificed and the mandibles were retrieved for qualitative and quantitative histologic assessment within three regions of interest (transitional zone, center, and periphery) throughout the biocomposites. Successful bone regeneration was defined by the absence of scaffold deformation and the presence of new bone formation within the biocomposites. In histomorphometry, only chOS/BoneMarrow showed elevated area fractions of newly formed bone in all regions of interest (transitional zone 50.7 ± 7.5, center 31.9 ± 9.3, periphery 23.1 ± 13.5). This led to preservation of the macroscopic scaffold structure in all specimens. Zero hurdle regression confirmed this by validating the factor biocomposite as significant (p < 0.001) for regeneration success. In our experiment, chOS/BoneMarrow was the only biocomposite passing the hurdle of regeneration in all three regions of interest. In contrast, bone formation was less pronounced and uniform in chOS/FactorXIII and chOS/blood-containing specimens. In these groups, scaffolds showed obvious to significant deformation. Overall, autologous bone marrow showed the most promising results in our experimental setting. As opposed to reports in the literature, we could not confirm the suitability of coagulation factor XIII to promote bone formation, since bone formation rates were comparable only to those of the control venous blood.