Effect of Lanthanum Zirconate Ceramic on the Dynamics of Hematological Parameters and the Bone Remodeling Markers: Experimental Study

Abstract

Background. Zirconium oxide is actively used in medicine; however, research is underway to improve mechanical characteristics and biointegration. One of the promising areas is the study of materials based on lanthanum zirconate (LZ).
 The study aimed to examine the effect of a new ceramic material based on LZ on the dynamics of hematological parameters and markers of bone tissue remodeling after intramedullary osteosynthesis (IO) of a hip fracture with LZ rods.
 Material and Methods. The ceramic material La1.95Ca0.05Zr2O7 was used. The experiment was conducted in guinea pigs, which were divided into four groups: main group, modeling of a hip fracture (IO of the fracture with LZ rod, n = 9); comparison group, modeling of a hip fracture (IO of a fracture with a rod from b-tricalcium phosphate [TCP]; n = 9); control (C) group, modeling of a hip fracture without IO (n= 9); and native control (NC) group. Animals were withdrawn from the experiment before surgery (NC) and at 4, 10, and 25 weeks after surgery (n=3 for each time point). Hematological parameters, i.e., a tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) as an osteoresorption marker and osteocalcin (OC) as an osteogenesis marker, were determined.
 Results. The red blood cell counts in all groups of the operated animals at 4, 10, and 25 weeks after surgery were not significantly different from the NK group. A significantly higher level of leukocytes in comparison with other groups was observed in the control group 10 weeks after surgery (p = 0.044), which was explained by the absence of fracture synthesis. The platelet level in all groups of the operated animals during the study period was not significantly different from the NK group. The TRAP activity in the LZ and TCP groups had maximum values after 4 weeks, and the OC level reached the maximum by 10 weeks after the operation without significant differences between the LZ and TCP groups of animals.
 Conclusion. The study of the main hematological parameters did not reveal a negative effect of LZ on the experimental animals. A positive effect of this material on bone tissue remodeling was found. A new ceramic material based on LC appears to be promising for use in traumatology and orthopedics.