QUESTION: Does artificial stimulation of osteoconduction and osteogenesis lead to improved bone formation in defects of critical size? MATERIAL AND METHODS: Full-thickness, critical-sized defects in the anterior mandible were created in 24 adult mini-pigs. These defects were treated with a new kind of bioactive ceramic (60% hydroxylapatite and 40% beta-tricalcium phosphate), applied as a unique sol gel [9]. The bioceramic was tested alone and in combination with autologous osteoblasts. In a control group, periosteum was the only bone-producing source. After 5 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and the defects analyzed clinically, histologically, and by X-ray examination. The effects of periosteum, bioceramics, and osteoblasts were investigated in particular. RESULTS: The new bioceramic was degraded at the same speed as new bone was laid down. The rate of newly formed bone was highest in the bioceramic group at 72.3% (control group with periosteal covering only 59.3%). Additional transplantation of autologous osteoblasts did not result in faster bone production. CONCLUSION: It seems that this bioactive ceramic is successful as a bone replacement material and will be suitable as a carrier for osteoinductive substances such as bone morphogenetic proteins.
QUESTION: Does artificial stimulation of osteoconduction and osteogenesis lead to improved bone formation in defects of critical size? MATERIAL AND METHODS: Full-thickness, critical-sized defects in the anterior mandible were created in 24 adult mini-pigs. These defects were treated with a new kind of bioactive ceramic (60% hydroxylapatite and 40% beta-tricalcium phosphate), applied as a unique sol gel [9]. The bioceramic was tested alone and in combination with autologous osteoblasts. In a control group, periosteum was the only bone-producing source. After 5 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and the defects analyzed clinically, histologically, and by X-ray examination. The effects of periosteum, bioceramics, and osteoblasts were investigated in particular. RESULTS: The new bioceramic was degraded at the same speed as new bone was laid down. The rate of newly formed bone was highest in the bioceramic group at 72.3% (control group with periosteal covering only 59.3%). Additional transplantation of autologous osteoblasts did not result in faster bone production. CONCLUSION: It seems that this bioactive ceramic is successful as a bone replacement material and will be suitable as a carrier for osteoinductive substances such as bone morphogenetic proteins.
Authors: Christoph Harms; Kai Helms; Tibor Taschner; Ioannis Stratos; Anita Ignatius; Thomas Gerber; Solvig Lenz; Stefan Rammelt; Brigitte Vollmar; Thomas Mittlmeier Journal: Int J Nanomedicine Date: 2012-06-15