An animal model in sheep for biocompatibility testing of biomaterials in cancellous bones

Katja Mr Nuss,Alois Boos,Brigitte Von Rechenberg,Joerg A Auer

doi:10.1186/1471-2474-7-67

Katja Mr Nuss, Alois Boos + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-7-67

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Abstract

BackgroundThe past years have seen the development of many synthetic bone replacements. To test their biocompatibility and ability for osseointegration, osseoinduction and -conduction requires their placement within bone preferably in an animal experiment of a higher species.MethodsA suitable experimental animal model in sheep with drill holes of 8 mm diameter and 13 mm depth within the proximal and distal humerus and femur for testing biocompatibility issues is introduced.ResultsThis present sheep model allows the placing of up to 8 different test materials within one animal and because of the standardization of the bone defect, routine evaluation by means of histomorphometry is easily conducted. This method was used successfully in 66 White Alpine Sheep. When the drill holes were correctly placed no complications such as spontaneous fractures were encountered.ConclusionThis experimental animal model serves an excellent basis for testing the biocompatibility of novel biomaterials to be used as bone replacement or new bone formation enhancing materials.

Highlights

The past years have seen the development of many synthetic bone replacements
The drill hole model in sheep as presented is well suited to test biocompatibility issues regarding biodegradable materials, and to answer questions related to material resorption, substitution with new bone or less functional
The experimental model was established in 70 sheep with a total of 560 drill holes for materials to be tested in bone

Summary

Introduction

The past years have seen the development of many synthetic bone replacements. To test their biocompatibility and ability for osseointegration, osseoinduction and -conduction requires their placement within bone preferably in an animal experiment of a higher species. Autologous cancellous bone is the material of choice for bone replacement and induction there are limitations in relation to its use, such as limited amount of material, additional surgical procedure, prolonged surgery and complications of wound healing at the donor site. Because of this there is continuous interest in the development of new synthetic materials [3,4,5]. Various animal species are used for these biocompatibility tests, such as the mouse [9], rat [10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18], guinea pig [19],

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