Bone Regeneration Using PEVAV/β-Tricalcium Phosphate Composite Scaffolds in Standardized Calvarial Defects: Micro-Computed Tomographic Experiment in Rats.

Mohammed Badwelan,Osama Alghamdi,Abeer Ahmed,Ali Alrahlah,Sundar Ramalingam,Mohammed Alkindi

doi:10.3390/ma14092384

Abstract

Bone regeneration using beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) can be practiced using a biocomposite scaffold. Poly(ethylene-co-vinylalcohol)/poly(δ-valerolactone)/β-tricalcium phosphate (PEVAV/β-TCP) composite scaffolds showed promising in vitro results. This study evaluated the bone regenerative potential of PEVAV/β-TCP biocomposite scaffolds in standardized calvarial defects in a rat model over 4 and 10 weeks. Bilateral calvarial defects (5 mm in diameter and about 1.5 mm thick, equivalent to the thickness of the calvaria) were created in 40 male Wistar albino rats. The defects were grafted with either commercially available β-TCP (positive control), PEVAV/β-TCP 70, or PEVAV/β-TCP 50, or left empty (negative control), depending on the group to which the animal was randomly assigned, to be covered before flap closure with resorbable collagen membrane (RCM). At 4 and 10 weeks post-surgery, the collected rat calvaria were evaluated using micro computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis, to assess the newly formed bone volume (NFBV), newly formed bone mineral density (NFBMD), and remaining graft volume (RGV). The results showed that calvarial defects grafted with the PEVAV/β-TCP biocomposite exhibited higher NFBV than did control defects, both at 4 and 10 weeks post-surgery. Furthermore, calvarial defects grafted with PEVAV/β-TCP 70 showed the highest NFBV among all grafting conditions, with a statistically significant difference recorded at 10 weeks post-surgery. The PEVAV/β-TCP composite scaffold showed potentiality for the regeneration of critical-sized calvarial bone defects in a rat model.

Highlights

50 and 70 wt% of β-TCP particles were added to a predetermined amount of PDVAL/Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (PEVAL) (1:1 wt% ratio), which were all dissolved in a minimum of DMF at 80 ◦ C with continuous stirring, until complete dissolution
The biocomposite scaffolds were relatively rigid at room temperature and, after being soaked in saline, allowed easy manipulation and application to the surgical site
Of a bone scaffold composed of hydroxyapatite (HAP)/chitosan (Ch)/poly- D, L -lactidetivity of a bone scaffold composed of hydroxyapatite (HAP)/chitosan (Ch)/poly‐D,L‐lac‐

Summary

Introduction

Bone defects resulting from traumatic injuries, tumor resection, or alveolar bone resorption following tooth loss, and the resulting defects with variable width and height, represent a challenging clinical situation [1]. Despite being the gold-standard bone grafting material, autologous bone grafting is associated with increased morbidity because it requires creating a second donor site. Grafting materials, such as allografts and xenografts, imply the possibility of immune rejection and disease transmission. Several synthetic bone-grafting materials have been developed and applied for osseous defect regeneration in the field of clinical dentistry and orthopedic surgery that showed significant success without the risk of disease transmission [2]. Beta-tricalcium phosphate (βTCP) has generated a great interest in bone regeneration both in animals [3,4]

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