In vitro and in vivo evaluation of novel Tadalafil/β-TCP/Collagen scaffold for bone regeneration: A rabbit critical-size calvarial defect study

Abstract

Different composite materials have been investigated in bone regeneration but none of them have a significant regeneration in a short time. In this study, the novel scaffold with the osteoinductive characteristic in order to accelerate bone regeneration for 6 weeks. Tadalafil/β-TCP/Collagen (TβC) and β-TCP/Collagen (βC) composite scaffolds were prepared and analyzed by porosity, biodegradability and MTT tests. And then, three bone defects (8mm diameter, n=6 group) were produced and filled with TβC, βC scaffolds and the third defect was unfilled as a control. Samples were taken and evaluated by histological, radiological and histomorphometric evaluation at 4 and 6 weeks. In vitro tests showed that both scaffold approximately had the same results in the percentage of porosity and in vitro cytotoxicity. Biodegradability of the βC scaffold was more than TβC scaffold. In vivo test showed bone regeneration was more in TβC scaffold at 6 weeks based on radiological and histopathologic analysis compared with βC scaffold and control groups. Histomorphometric analysis showed that the amount of the bone regeneration was significant in TβC group in comparison βC and control groups (P<0.05) at 6 weeks. This study highlights the promising application of TβC scaffold with Tadalafil for successful bone regeneration by enhancing osteogenesis.