Effect of recombinant PDGF-BB on bone formation in the presence of ß-tricalcium phosphate and bovine bone mineral matrix: a pilot study in rat calvarial defects.

BACKGROUND: Supplementation of bone substitutes with recombinant platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) can enhance bone regeneration. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of PDGF-BB on bone formation in the presence of ß-tricalcium phosphate and bovine bone mineral matrix in a rat calvaria defect model. METHODS: The authors examined 5 mm rat calvarial defects treated with ß-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) or demineralized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) with and without 0.3 mg/ml recombinant PDGF-BB. Calvaria defects were randomly divided into the following treatment groups (n = 5); TCP; TCP plus PDGF-BB; DBBM; DBBM plus PDGF-BB; and untreated empty control. After 45 days, bone formation was evaluated by histomorphometry and fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: The authors report that the area of newly formed bone was similar between the empty controls and the two bone substitutes, TCP and DBBM. Supplementation of TCP and DBBM with PDGF-BB had no significant impact on bone formation. Fluorochrome staining revealed no visible changes in the pattern of bone formation in defects filled with TCP and DBBM, irrespective of PDGF-BB. Furthermore, supplementation with PDGF-BB did not influence biomaterial degradation. CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that PDGF-BB had no impact on bone formation and degradation of bone substitutes in the respective rodent models. Thus, possible beneficial effects of PDGF-BB may require other model situations.

Histometric analysis and topographic characterization of cp Ti implants with surfaces modified by laser with and without silica deposition.

Biologic behavior of the bone tissue around implants with four different surfaces was evaluated. The surfaces were: modified by laser (LS); modified by laser with sodium silicate deposition (SS); and commercially available surfaces modified by acid etching (AS) and machined surface (MS). Topographic characterization of the surfaces was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)- energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) before experimental surgery. Thirty rabbits received 60 implants in their right and left tibias, 1 implant of each surface being placed in each tibia. The analyzed periods were 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively. Histometric analysis was performed evaluating bone interface contact (BIC) and bone area (BA). The results obtained were submitted to the analysis of variance and the Tukey t-test. The elemental mapping was evaluated by means of SEM at 4 weeks postoperatively. The topographic characterization showed differences between the analyzed surfaces. Generally, the BIC and BA of LS and SS implants were statistically higher than those of AS and MS in most of the analyzed periods. Elemental mapping showed high peaks of calcium and phosphorous in all groups. Based on the present methodology, it may be concluded that experimental modifications LS and SS accelerated the stages of the bone tissue repair process around the implants, providing the highest degree of osseointegration.

The effect of BMP-2 on the osteoconductive properties of ß-tricalcium phosphate in rat calvaria defects.

Bone formation in critical-sized calvaria defects is strongly dependent on the osteoconductive properties of grafts. It remains a matter of controversy whether biomaterials can replace autografts and whether the supplementation of biomaterials with Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) is necessary to enhance bone formation. We examined rat calvaria critical-sized defects (5-mm-diameter) treated with ß-tricalcium phosphate (TCP; Cerasorb® M), polylactic and polyglycolic acid gel (PLA/PGA; Fisiograft®) and calcium phosphate cement (CPC; Norian® CRS®), either alone or in the presence of 5 µg of BMP-2 after 45 days. Autografts and untreated defects served as controls. Bone formation was evaluated based on µCT analysis, histomorphometric analysis and fluorescence analysis. We report that TCP supported bone formation more efficiently than did autografts. Bone formation in the presence of TCP alone reached a maximal level, as BMP-2 supplementation failed to enhance bone formation. By contrast, no significant difference in bone formation was observed when PLA/PGA and CPC were compared to autografts. Moreover, the presence of BMP-2 did not substantially change the osteoconductive properties of PLA/PGA or CPC. We conclude that the osteoconductive properties of TCP are superior to those of autografts and that TCP does not require BMP-2 supplementation. Our findings also show that the decreased osteoconductive properties of PLA/PGA and CPC cannot be overcome by BMP-2 supplementation in rat calvaria defects.