Effect of low-level laser therapy on the healing of sites grafted with coagulum, deproteinized bovine bone, and biphasic ceramic made of hydroxyapatite and ß-tricalcium phosphate. In vivo study in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the healing of biomaterial graft areas (i.e., coagulum, deproteinized bovine bone, and biphasic ceramics comprising hydroxyapatite and ß-tricalcium phosphate). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety rats were divided into two groups according to laser irradiation use (λ 808 nm, 100 mW, φ ∼600 µm, seven sessions with 28 J of irradiation dose in total): a laser group and a control group. Each of these groups was divided into three subgroups of 15 animals each according to the type of biomaterial used: Coagulum (COA), deproteinized bovine bone (DBB), and hydroxyapatite/ß-tricalcium phosphate (HA/ßTCP). Biomaterials were inserted into Teflon domes, and these domes were grafted to the lateral aspect of the mandibular branch of the rats. The animals were sacrificed after 30, 60, and 90 days. Scarring patterns were evaluated by microtomography and histometry. The expression levels of BMP2, osteocalcin (OCN), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression levels of ALP, BMP2, Jagged1, Osterix, Runx2, and TGFß1 were determined by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: The animals treated with LLLT exhibited increased mineralized tissues and bone, particularly after 90 days. These increases were associated with increased BMP2, OCN, and ALP protein expression and ALP, BMP2, and Jagged1 mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: LLLT improved the osteoconductive potential of DBB and HA/ßTCP grafts and bone formation in ungrafted areas. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effects of the long-term administration of alendronate on the mechanical properties of the basal bone and on osseointegration.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the long-term administration of alendronate on the mechanical properties of the basal bone and on osseointegration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty female rats were randomly allocated into two equally sized groups: the control (CTL) group, which received the subcutaneous administration of saline solution, and the alendronate (ALD) group, which received the subcutaneous administration of alendronate (1 mg/kg/week). After 120 days of these therapies, one implant was placed in each rat tibia. Ten animals in each group were euthanized at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, or 60 days after surgery. The tibias with implants evaluated regarding the removal torque, bone-implant contact (BIC), the bone area fraction occupancy (BAFO), and Ca/P ratio. The femurs were evaluated regarding bone mineral density (BMD) and using mechanical tests to evaluate the maximal force of fracture, stiffness, and tenacity. RESULTS: The ALD group presented statistically significant higher BMD (all periods except 15 days), maximal force of fracture (at 20, 30, and 45 days), tenacity (at 10, 20, 30, and 45 days), stiffness (45 days), removal torque (at 20, 25 and 30 days), BIC (at 20 and 60 days), and BAFO (at 20, 30, and 45 days) than the CTL group. No differences were found between the groups regarding the Ca/P ratio. CONCLUSION: Previous long-term therapy with alendronate caused an increase in the BMD, maximal force of fracture of the bone without changing the inorganic composition and elastic deformability of this tissue. Furthermore, the ALD therapy enhanced osseointegration.

Bacterial cellulose-hydroxyapatite composites with osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) or pentapeptide OGP on bone regeneration in critical-size calvarial defect model.

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of bacterial cellulose-hydroxyapatite (BC-HA) composites associated with osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) or pentapeptide OGP(10-14) in bone regeneration in critical-size calvarial defects in mice. In this study, the BC-HA, BC-HA-OGP, and BC-HA-OGP(10-14) membranes were analyzed at 3, 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days. In each period, the specimens were evaluated by micro-computed tomography (µCT), descriptive histology, gene expression of bone biomarkers by qPCR and VEGFR-2 (vascular endothelial growth factor) quantification by ELISA. Three days post-operative, Runx2, Tnfrsf11b and Bglap bone biomarkers were upregulated mainly by BC-HA OGP and BC-HA OGP(10-14) membranes, suggesting an acceleration of the osteoblast differentiation/activity with the use of these biomaterials. At 60 and 90 days, a high percentage of bone formation was observed by µCT for BC-HA and BC-HA OGP(10-14) membranes. High expression of some bone biomarkers, such as Alpl, Spp1, and Tnfrsf11b, was also observed for the same membranes on days 60 and 90. In conclusion, the BC-HA membrane promoted a better bone formation in critical-size mice calvarial defects. Nevertheless, incorporation of the peptides at the concentration of 10(-9) mol L(-1) did not improve bone regeneration potential in the long-term.