In vivo evaluation of bioactive glass foams associated with platelet-rich plasma in bone defects.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of bioactive glass foams produced by the sol-gel process, associated or not with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), in the regeneration of bone defects. Mongrel dogs (n = 14) were divided into two groups after having their superior first premolar removed. A small piece of vestibular bone from the alveolus was intentionally removed. The area was filled with bioactive glass foam produced by the sol-gel method. Two groups were tested: group A was the glass foam; group B was the same material associated with PRP, prepared from each animal. The other side of alveolar bone was used as a control group, in which the bone defect did not receive any biomaterial. The thickness of the bone area was measured before and after the intervention. After a period of 60 days implantation, the right and left bones were measured again, and a bone biopsy on both regions was conducted for histological analysis. The findings show an increase of bone thickness for both materials implanted compared to the control group. Group B, implanted with bioactive glass foam associated with PRP, showed a thicker bone area compared to Group A. Histological results indicate bone formation for both materials used. However, the bioactive glass associated with PRP gave rise to a more mature bone formation. These results show that bioactive glass foams processed by a sol-gel method is effective in maintaining the thickness of the alveolar ridge, and the use of PRP associated with the foams improve bone formation. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.